By Patrick Obia
Association of Cross River Online Journalists (ACROJ), Citizens’ Solution Network, and Agba Jalingo Foundation for Investigative and Accountability Journalism (AJFIAJ) have called on the Cross River Police command to swing into action, arrest and prosecute those involved in the burning of Mrs. Martina Okey for alleged witchcraft.
This was contained in a joint press release issued by the organizations in Calabar on Friday stating that the late Madam Okey needs not to be executed extrajudicially by “misguided bloodthirsty murderers without her soul getting justice from the State.”
The trio organizations said the aim is to prevent senseless and reprehensible killings in the future.
The reads: “We the undersigned organizations are calling on the Cross River State Police Command and the Resident Police Commissioner to swing into action to have the gang of murderers (led by Christopher Sunday) arrested and prosecuted who took the life of Mrs. Martina Okey Itagbor after chopping her fingers off and burning her to death in Old Netim, Akamkpa Local Government Area, after using the pretext of accusing her of being a witch.
“Mrs. Martina Okey Itagbor needs not to be executed extrajudicially by misguided bloodthirsty murderers without her soul getting justice from the State.
“The Nigerian Police must realize that this is one extrajudicial killing too many, and this primitive and unacceptable murder keeps occurring in the State because those who killed innocent women, who they don’t like their faces in their local community went scot-free without any repercussions due to the visible refusal of the Cross River State Police Command to arrest, prosecute and ensure that those who take the lives of others get to face the full wrath of the law.
“For this reason with an intention to prevent senseless and reprehensible killings in the future, we the organizations who are signatories to this press statement wish to call on the Nigerian Police Force to see that justice is served as we condemn the murder of Mrs. Martina Okey Itagbor in the strongest terms.
“The Cross River State Police Command must deem it necessary to rise to the occasion to preempt further killings of old women who are defenseless in the face of hostility from unexpected quarters by ensuring that the murderers of Mrs. Martina Okey Itagbor face the law and account for their brutal killing of Mrs. Martina.
“Let it be in the public registry, that it is the statutory responsibility of the State and its Police Force to see that this primitive killing is brought to an end and the older and defenseless female population gets protected from summary torture, humiliation, and killings.”
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