A stepmother identified as Peremoboere Botu, has been arrested by the police for chaining a 9-year-old boy identified as Godday Simon Aprebo to a pole over allegation of being a wizard in Bayelsa Stat.
She accused the boy of using voodoo against his family, caused misfortunes for his father and trying to kill him.
The incident occurred on Agboli Street at Okutukutu area of Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state.
According to Daily Trust, neighbours said the victim’s stepmother and biological father, Simon Afrebo, chained him to prevent him from running away, alleging that he is a wizard.
They reportedly subjected him to series of punishments to force him to confess to the alleged wizardry.
It was gathered it took the effort of the police operatives to rescue the boy.
The boy’s father, said to be a prophet, was said to have since absconded.
Advocacy groups, Starrz Safety Initiative, led by its Executive Director, Mary Bekeowei Accrah and FOMWAN, led by Hajia Maryam Abeki, were said to have quickly drew the attention of the Bayelsa State Gender Response Initiative Team (GRIT) to the boy’s plight.
The State Chairman of the Gender Response Initiative Team (GRIT), Barr. Dise Ogbise, who confirmed the development, described the incident as pathetic, saying the culprits would not go unpunished.
She called on the Bayelsa State Police Command to thoroughly investigate the matter and prosecute the culprits as soon as possible, adding that GRIT would take steps to offer psycho-socio support to the child.
The state police spokesman, SP Asinim Butswat, who confirmed the incident, said a discreet investigation was ongoing.