YOUNG MAN DIES, PASTOR BATTLES FOR LIFE AS STORM RAVAGES CHURCH IN KARU— FAMILY. (PHOTO).
A 47-year-old man, identified as Emi Sigah, accused of sleeping with a minor, has d!ed after he was flogged to death by a mob in Ekowe community, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State on Wednesday, March 26.
The deceased was said to have collapsed after receiving about 40 strokes of cane which is part of a customary punishment that prescribes up to 120 strokes for individuals accused of rape in the community. Residents said the practice is an age-long tradition in Ekowe, where each of the 12 families administers 10 strokes of the cane, amounting to a total of 120 strokes, as a deterrent against sexual offences, which are considered as sacrilegious act in the community.
The residents of the community allege that the rape victim (name withheld) had accompanied her aunty to a nearby farm to pluck okra, when she was allegedly ambushed by the culprit while her unsuspecting aunty was leading the way from the farm. The suspect was said to have been caught allegedly molesting the toddler in the nearby bush.
In fulfilment of the old culture of Ekowe community, the suspect was subjected to a 120 flogging marathon, but he fainted after enduring 40 strokes and was later confirmed dead.
It was gathered that some individuals in the community tried to intervened, offered between N50,000 and N15,000 as options for the flogging, but community youths insisted that the tradition must be followed to serve as deterrent to others.
The Chairman of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Mr. Target Segibo, who confirmed the incident in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Ayebaitari Easterday, said normalcy has been restored to the community with the timely intervention of the council and the security operatives.
He said the youth president of the community and three others persons have been arrested in connection with the death of the suspect, adding that they are currently being detained at the Criminal Investigative Department (CID) of the Bayelsa State Police Command in Yenagoa.
Comments
Post a Comment