tortured for more than four hours before finally axed on the head to a
state of coma by assailants numbering about ten over allegation of
using witchcraft power to kill his father.Narrating his ordeal in the
hands from those he called 'local cultists' to newsmen, Asuquo, who
hails from Ikon- Edikor, Udung Uko Local Government Area, said he was
reconciled with his parents few months ago by an Eket based non-profit
organization, the Child's Right and Rehabilitation Network (CRARN)
that runs a centre for witch stigmatized children, having lived there
for over a year.
He maintained that his father who had unknown health issue received
him with open arms, before he died a few days ago.
''My father was very happy to see me again after abandoning me for
more than three years on the streets because one soothsayer, by
nameAlex Otong from Obughu, bought by my stepmother told him that I
was a wizard; and responsible for his illness, the poverty and
misfortune in the family….''
The Junior Secondary II student said he was sitting in his late
father's house, mourning his death that fateful day when the hoodlums
led by two of his stepmother's brothers, by name Silas and Peter
Inwang cordoned the house and started beating him with machetes,
cables, rods, spine-sticks and 'mbritem' a local sugarcane-like plant
while questioning him why he returned from exile only to kill his
father; assuring him that he was seeing the sun for the last time in
his life. The beating which started about 12:00 pm last Wednesday
lasted for about four hours when he finally fell into a state of coma
after they used ax to break his head. The attackers abandoned Asuquo
in in his pool of blood when they presumed that he was dead.
He disclosed that he was only woken up in the evening around 7:00 pm
by a woman, who frequently visits the area for business; who asked him
to leave the house before the cult men discovered he was still alive,
as they would not hesitate to renew their attack or kill him
immediately. Master Asuquo said he wobbled into the nearby bush where
he hid himself for three days eating just raw cassava to survive
before he came out to meet the Good Samaritan woman who gave him Five
Hundred Naira (N500) to pay his way to the CRARN Children shelter,
about a 160km away from his hometown.
He strongly fingered his stepmother who had ten children to his late
father as the mastermind of the attack on him. Adding that, while he
was being brutalized, by the dare devils, they persistently poured
urine and combine (a local gin mixed with marijuana) on him which
burned him like fire all over his body.
On arrival at the CRARN Children Shelter, he was given first aid
before taken to the Immanuel General Hospital Eket for treatment. But
the Doctor on call insisted that given the extent of injuries on his
body, he must get a police report before he could be attended to. The
CRARN Centre Administrative Officer, Mr. Nsidibe Orok told this
reporter that Asuquo was currently receiving treatment at the Immanuel
General Hospital, Eket at moment.
A senior police officer in Oron Area Command who did not want his name
in print, however, said investigation will commence when the victim's
health improves. He expressed worry over the new surge in child witch
related abuse in the state, and promised the command willingness to
deal with abuses of like nature.
"Let his health gets improved, we will investigate the matter. I can
assure you that this command will not fold its arm and watch children
being brutalized in the name of witchcraft or whatever guise." The
police chief assures.
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