Women groups in Bayelsa State on Thursday visited the 71- year- old widow, who was chained to a pole by members of a Vigilante group in Korokorosei community in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.
They said the visit to the hospital was to assure the widow that they were supporting her and calling for the arrest of individuals involved in her public brutalization and humiliation.
Leader of the Do Foundation Team, Dise Harry, on behalf of the delegation, said the various advocacy groups in the state were in the hospital to give moral support to the hospitalised widow and called on the police and the state government to summon the vigilante members involved to explain their roles in the public disgrace of the elderly woman.
Dise Harry said: “We were told that she was dragged through the market square and tied to a pole like a common criminal. We are calling on the Bayelsa State Government and the police to investigate the incident
“The action of the vigilante members is an infringement on the fundamental human rights of this 71- year- old widow. There is no belief or culture that is above the Nigerian constitution. As a woman, we stand by you.”
She also called on traditional rulers and community heads to review some beliefs and traditions that are inimical to the welfare and well -being women and the girl-child in their domains, stressing that women needed to be protected against maltreatment and unfair conduct.
Team Lead of the End Violence Against Women and Children, Tari Youdubagha, also condemned the action of the members of the vigilante group, declaring that the coalition of women groups is demanding that those behind the inhumane act be brought to justice.
Hajia Balikis of the Federation of Women Muslims Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), Bayelsa State chapter, also assured the widow of the support of Muslim women,
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“You are our mother. What they did to you is wrong. What they have done is injustice to every woman,” she said.
Mr. ThankGod Andrew, younger brother to the widow, described the incident as a sad one for the entire family.
“We were shocked to hear that she was dragged through the community. If we had protested, there would have been crisis in the community. But as peace- loving people, we approached the police and women organisations.
“She was accused falsely that she was caught trying to machete her niece and we were asked to pay N50, 000 and was threatened with 50 strokes of cane,” he stated.
The son of the hospitalised widow, Dr. Ebimobotei Mao Bunu, also expressed sadness over the incident, saying “when I got to the community, I saw my mother tied to a pole with slave chains and some elderly women were playing draft as if they were happily enjoying her suffering.
“For me, if I want to take law into my hands, it will promote crisis. Now, they have started tagging us as breakers of law and order.”
