NCWS Seeks Justice For Brutalized 11-Year Old In Rivers
3 min read
Edith CHUKU
National Council of Women Societies, NCWS, Rivers State chapter, has called for justice for the 11-year old Goodluck Jaja from Opobo, who was subjected to severe torture by one Mr. Elijah, a church keeper, for allegedly opening a vehicle in the church premises where they reside.
According to a rights group, Centre for Basic Rights which rescued the 11-year old lad from cruelty “we rescued 11-year old Goodluck Jaja from Opobo who was subjected to severe torture and ill treatment by their Church Keeper at 108 Abel Jumbo Street, Mile 2 Diobu, Port Harcourt.
“We have also handed him over to the Divisional Police Officer of Azikiwe Police Division who instructed his men to search for the man, one Elijah said to be the vineyard keeper of the church who tortured the 11-year old boy but unfortunately he was not seen, and a member of the church has also been invited for questioning.
“The 11-year old boy told us that he was maltreated like a criminal because he opened the door of a vehicle in the church where he and his grandmother resides. The said Elijah tied his legs and hands and used belt to flog him after which he rubbed him pepper. The grandmother is helpless too because the accommodation the church gave them is free.
“His cousin who came from Egbelu took him to a chemist and Centre for Basic Rights was alerted by people in the chemist.”
President of the NCWS, Sheila Innocent Abiye who expressed dismay over the way and manner the boy was maltreated, appealed to the state police command not to handle the matter with kid gloves but should ensure that the accused who, as at the time of this report was nowhere to be found, face the full wrath of the law.
Sheila said the women group would have embarked on a protest to the church at 108 Abel Jumbo Street, Mile 2, Diobu, Port Harcourt to register their displeasure and demand the immediate apprehension and prosecution of the man for torturing the 11-year old boy worse than a witch will be treated, but decided to put on hold following the immediate intervention of the police after the human rights group reported to them.
According to her, “that man that did this to this harmless boy is not a human being at all, in fact, he is also not an animal, such treatment can only come from a beast. That a boy opened a car in the compound where they live, you tied him up, both hands and legs and designed his entire body like that, Jesus Christ! All his wailing and bleeding did not touch you; even the devil can’t be this heartless.
“Tied his legs and hands and used your belt to flog him and after that you rubbed him pepper, kee! And you are a vineyard keeper, certainly not the vineyard of God, maybe that of the devil. We planned a protest when we were informed of this development, to march to the church and ask if that boy was vomited through the mouth or a woman carried him in the womb and delivered him after nine months, even slaves in those days are not treated like this.”
She commended the rights group and the police for their quick intervention, “on behalf of National Council of Women Societies, we say a big thank you to Centre for Basic Rights Protection and Accountability Campaign, God bless them, and also to the DPO of Azikiwe Police Division, in Mile 2, we appreciate their efforts, we also appeal that they continue until that Mr. Elijah is apprehended.”
