The wife of Abia State Governor, Mrs Nkechi Ikpeazu has come to the rescue of a woman from Umuaghu Amaegbuato Nkpa in Bende LGA, Mrs Amarachi who was tied and flogged Okechi by youths and some other villagers for allegedly involving in witchcraft.
Mrs Okechi , who is a widow, was in a trending online video, paraded by youths and other community members with her hands tied to her back and legs also tied by the villagers who accused her of being a witch.
The roaring mob also accused her of killing her late husband with alleged witchcraft which the woman denied as she was being flogged. The youths who took turn to flog the widow with 5 stroke of cane, each, used big cassava stem and other hard caning objects to dehumanize the widow while also filming and taunting her even as she pleaded her innocence.
They had claimed that a local diviner revealed to them that Mrs Amarachi Okechi caused her late husband’s sickness and eventual death, while also accusing her of causing the deaths and economic misfortunes to youths of Umueghu Amaegbuato Nkpa.
But a human rights group later drew the attention of the world especially the wife of Abia State Governor, Mrs Nkechi Ikpeazu who swiftly arranged for the rescue of the abused widow.
Speaking on the rescue of Mrs Amarachi, Mrs Ikpeazu through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Chika Ojiegbe condemned the actions of the villagers and assured that the culprits would not escape justice. She confirmed that the victim has been rescued and taken to hospital for treatment while all medical bill would be picked by the Abia first lady.
Ojiegbe in a statement said, “The first lady Mrs Nkechi Ikpeazu is particularly thankful to the member representing Bende South, Emanuel Ndubuisi, the Bende LGA Chairman and his wife Mrs Leticia Onwuchekwa as well as the traditional ruler of the area for the role in successfully extricating the woman from the volatile area.”
He added, ” When the first lady heard about it last night, she swing into action to rescue the woman”, adding that “incidents like this are not welcome in Abia.”
Ikpeazu’s wife pointed out that all concerned security agencies have been notified about the development and subsequently commenced investigations, adding that those responsible for would face the weight of the law.
Also, Abia State Police Command has confirmed that it has launched investigations into the barbaric incident.
The Spokesman of the Police Command, Geoffrey Ogbonna said that the matter would thoroughly be investigated to fish out those involved.
Meanwhile, reports reaching News Echo from Nkpa has revealed that some of the youths involved in the orgy of floggings, have fled the village into nearby villages to escape arrest.
Also, some elders of the community who allegedly masterminded the actions are also said to be trading blames with the alleged diviner over the incident.
Meanwhile, the victim who has been rushed to a hospital, suffered injuries in her foreheads, hands, ribs, and back resulting from the terrible floggings she was subjected to.
Efforts to get her talk to the press was not successful as she was too weak ,from the injuries she sustained during the attack.
