Kids branded witches escape lynching in C’River

TWO kids were on Friday rescued at Ikot-Abasi-Effiom community in Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State by a Calabar-based child’s rights organisation, Basic Rights Counsel Initiative.

The group was in the community to screen a movie titled ‘‘The Fake Prophet’ when its attention was drawn to the fate of the boy.

A village source, Sunday Nta, disclosed that the two kids, aged 10 and seven, were about to be lynched by members of a church at Ikot-Abasi-Effiom, when the group, acting on a tip-off, rescued him.

He said the kids were branded witches following an allegation by a female family member that the kids had repeatedly attacked her in her dream and snatched her baby from the womb.

Southern City News learnt that the allegation, which had initially led to ostracising the kids in the community, took a different dimension when the church, led by a prophet, bundled the kids into the bush for torture.

It was gathered that an uncle of the boys, who rushed to the scene where the kids were already tied to a tree, made contacts for their rescue.

Nta said, “The kids were stigmatised as soon as they were branded as witches. But the situation took a new dimension on Friday when the children were taken to the forest and tied to a tree.

“They were battered and assaulted by some members of the family, leaving them with cuts and bruises all over their bodies.

“Respite came the way of the children when an uncle, who arrived from town, demanded the release of the children with threats of calling the police and on learning of BRCI’s visit, took the children to the venue where, coincidentally, a movie was being screened.”

Secretary of BRCI, Mr. James Ibor, said the kids had been taken to one of the community health centres in Ikot-Offiong-Ambai for treatment.

Fed Govt alerts Nigerians to ISIS app to woo children

The Federal Government has alerted Nigerians of the latest antics of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

According to a statement by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, ISIS has a newly-launched mobile application developed for propagating Jihad to children.

The statement which was signed by Mr. Segun Adeyemi, Special Assistant to the minister, stated that the said mobile application, tagged: ‘Huroof’ (Arabic alphabets or letters), is to be used by ISIS to teach children the Arabic alphabets with the aid of guns, military tanks and cannons.

‘’The application utilizes colourful illustrations that attract and engage the attention of young children,’’ the minister said, urging members of the public in general and parents in particular to be vigilant and to prevent their children and wards from being indoctrinated.

Two children suffocate in locked car

Tragedy struck, Monday evening, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, as two kids died from suffocation when they accidentally locked themselves in a car, at Ofoni Street, off Old Assembly Quarters Road, Ekeki, a suburb.

Vanguard gathered that the victims, identified as David and Grace, aged three and two, respectively, were of different parents.

No one knew when the kids got inside the Golf parked near their homes. But they reportedly locked themselves in accidentally while they were playing.

A resident told Vanguard that the car, owned by Grace’s father, had broken down for some time and left in the compound.

He said: “The children lived in the same compound and were playing, while their parents were out. Nobody knew when the kids entered the car.

“They were only found unconscious at 5p.m., following a search after one of the parents raised alarm about their disappearance.

“They were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, but the doctors were on strike. They were then taken to Gloryland Hospital. But as soon as they arrived, they were confirmed dead.”

Contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Asinim Butswat, said the command had not been briefed.

Source: Vanguard