Outrage has trailed the humiliation of a 71-year-old widow who was chained to a pole by members of a vigilante group in Bayelsa State.
On Saturday, a non -governmental organization, End Violence Against Women and Children, (EVAWC), called on the police to take action against those who chained Madam Sudinah Andrew to a pole in a market square in Korokorosei Community in the Southern Ijaw Local Government area of the state
The organization said the incident occured on January 28, 2025, and that the woman was only rescued after concerned women group organisations intervened.
It added that the 71- year- old woman was accused of wielding a cutlass against her daughter during a family dispute. However, the allegation was later found to be false.
Despite the charge of possession of a dangerous weapons leveled against the woman, some members of the community vigilante group who had held a grudge against her for instigating their arrest by the police took the opportunity to mete the harsh treatment on her.
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An eyewitness and brother to the widow, Mr. Thankgod Andrew, told journalists that “the vigilante group on the 28th of January, 2025, dragged my sister through the community and chained her to a pole at the market square from the 28th to 29th of January, 2025.”
He stated that the vigilante group led by one, Opukiri Ogbe and the CDC Chairman, Ayibaditon Fiokorighe and two others, allegedly demanded for N50, 000 or fine of 55 strokes of cane before his sister can be unchained.
The traumatized widow was however said to have been released after relatives petitioned the state police command and some non-governmental organisations.
The rescued 71 years old widow was after her rescue taken to the emergency unit of the Government House Clinic in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
Narrating her ordeal from her hospital bed, Madam Sudinah Andrew told newsmen that she had been dehumanised and traumatised by the actions of the vigilante group,
“I was holding a cutlass because I was preparing to go into the bush to cut down plantain. I was cautioning my disrespectful granddaughter whose mother resides in another village. I told them I meant no harm but they insisted I have committed an offence,” she narrated.
Reacting, the Team lead of the End Violence Against Women and Children (EVAWC), Tina Youdubagha, condemned the vigilante personnel action, describing it as barbaric and a violation of the fundamental rights of the woman,
“This case is inhumane and barbaric. I say no to it. We call on the Bayelsa State Police Command to investigate and give justice to the widow,” she demanded.
