The Cross River State Governmment has ordered the immediate arrest of youths who burnt to death one madam Martina Okey Itagbor, of Old Netim, Akamkpa LGA south south Nigeria.
Madam Itagbor was brutally killed and burnt to ashes after a car crash killed two young men, youths in Old Netim accused her of witchcraft responsible for the death of those men.
A statement by the Chief press secretary to Governor Bassey Edet Otu of Cross River State Mr Emmanuel Ogbeche said the finds the allegation, if proven true, to be repulsive and against all civility.
Through the CPS Gov. Otu, said that Cross River State like all parts of Nigeria is governed by constitutional order, therefore, all forms of brigandage and criminal acts will not be tolerated and will met with the full weight of the law.
He said it was a sheer savagery and cowardice for the youth or anybody to take laws into their hands especially involving a helpless woman, saying that such abhorrent acts have no place in a constitutional democracy that Nigeria practices which Cross River State is part of.
As an Administration committed to the People’s First Agenda, the Governor said his administration will be intolerant to the acts capable of breaching the peace, endangering citizens and businesses and portraying the state in a very bad light.
“To this end, I am directing the Commissioner of police in the state to mobilize all tactical and investigative assets and ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous act are brought to justice,”He said.
The statement dated June 30, reads, “my attention has been drawn to the alleged burning to death of a citizen of the state, Mrs Martina Okey Itagbor by some unscrupulous, wild and criminal minded youths purportedly for witchcraft.”
“Our people must do away with all relics of culture that promote violence, murder and criminality. I wish to warm against all of such acts as we laws and statues to deal with issues of wrong doing and disagreements,”he said.
Gov. Otu who used the occasion to extend his condolence to the deceased and community urged all community leaders, religious institutions, and civil society organizations to do more in the area of civic Education while championing the crusade for tolerance and respect for constituted authority.
He said anyone found taking laws into his or her hands will be made to face the Court.