Coalition of Women led organisations in Bayelsa State have visited the 71 year old widow, who was allegedly chained to a pole by some members of the vigilante groups in Korokorosei community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state, on her hospital bed, condemning the act and demanding for those involved to be arrested and prosecuted for alleged assault.
The 71 year old widow, Madam Sudinah Andrew was last week chained to a pole at the Market Square in Korokorosei Community by some members of the community vigilante group provoking outrage among women groups in the state.
The Coalition of Women Organisations in the state, made up of Groups involved in campaign against violence of the girl child and women, said the visit to the hospital is to assure the widow that they are supporting her and are calling for the arrest of individuals involved in her public embarrassment and tying to the pole.
Among the members of the Coalition of the Women groups are vice chairperson of the Dise Ogbise Foundation Selekere Preye, Team lead of the End Violence against Women and Children Tari Youdubagha, Hon Joy Salo of Friday Konyefa Foundation, Prince Osain of Okpoitari Diongoli, Lady Stella Doumo of Kosiate Boy Child Foundation and Revrend Mrs Roseline Egbesu of the Women Wing of Christian Association of Nigeria (South-South).
The leader of the Do Foundation Team. Barr. Dise Goddy Harry, while speaking during the visit, said the various advocacy groups in the state were in the hospital to give moral support to the hospitalised widow and called on the Nigerian Police, the State Government and the Bayelsa Non-Governmental forum (BANGOF) to summon the vigilante members involved to explain their roles in the public disgrace of the elderly woman.
Barr. Dise Goddy Harry, “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 Nigerian 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 beliefs 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 child in their domain,urging that women needs to be protected against maltreated and unfair conducts.
Also speaking, the Team lead of the End Violence Against Women and Children (EVAWC), Tari Tina Youdubagha, also condemned the action of the members of the vigilante group, declaring that the coalition of Women groups are demanding that those behind the dastardly 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 the Muslim women, “You are our mother. What they did to you is wrong. What they have done is injustice to every woman.”
Mr. ThankGod Bukuromo Andrew, the junior brother to the widow, described the incident as a sad one to 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.”
Also speaking, son of the hospitalised widow, Dr. Ebimobotei Mao Bunu, also expressed sadness over the incident and said despite the release of her mother following a police order, ” 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.”
