The worst thing that can happen to a human being is to be betrayed by family members.
This was the traumatic experience of a 98-year- old old woman, Magarret Okpole, who was labelled a witch by her kinsmen.
The nonagenarian has developed mental challenges after severe torture from her kinsmen in Otor-Iyede community, Isoko North council area of Delta, over accusation of witchcraft.
It was learnt the incident happened on Friday, March 19, leaving the nonagenarian in untold shock and pains.
According to reports, an attempt to arrest the suspects was intercepted by some community leaders, who asked the community’s deity to be consulted first.
However, findings from the oracle reportedly proved the 98-year old was innocent of witchcraft.
The daughter of the 98-year- old victim, Mrs. Alice Jete, appealed to Delta Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ari Muhammed Ali and Human Rights Organisations to ensure the perpetrators are brought to book.
She said her mother was falsely accused and maltreated.
Jete, 52, said the matter was reported at a police station in a nearby community, Otor-Owhe, the following day.
She said: “I was called that evening. I and my son got to the village around 10 in the night. We took her to the hospital that night. It was my 20-year old son that carried her.
“They beat her to the extent that up till now, she cannot tell where she is. When I ask her ‘mama, where are you?’ She will say, ‘I don’t know. It’s like it (the maltreatment) affected her mentally.”
A relative was said to be behind the unfortunate incident.
A video of the incident saw old Okpole and another woman, said to be her mate, seated on sandy floor, appealing for their lives.
The two women were flogged repeatedly on the head and sides with plantain stems by at least four men, after which they were forcefully dragged on the ground into a room where they were locked in.
A voice could be heard saying: “These are the witches of Otor-Iyede. They can kill their children for anything…”
A man on white and green coloured clothing also appeared on the video shouting ‘enough’ in Isoko language, while wading off further onslaught on the women.
The Police acting spokesman, DSP Edafe Bright confirmed the incident, disclosing “the suspects are on the run”.
