3rd December, 2021
Oyo State government on Thursday rescued from a lynch mob in Ibadan of a 74 year-old homeless woman, Madam Silifatu Olawale, accused of witch-craft.
Government found that she was mentally challenged.
Handing her over to her relatives, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Alhaja Kafilat Olayiwola condemned jungle justice and maltreatment of suspected mentally ill persons in the society.
Olayiwola who said the act is barbaric and traumatizing, advised members of the public to always hand over such cases to the appropriate authorities for further investigation, as wrongful acts are not reversible.
Alhaja Olayiwola who spoke through the Director of Administrative and Supplies, Barrister Olumuyiwa Olagoke said, “our people should be cautious and avoid unlawful deeds that can truncate the peaceful atmosphere in the state”.
“About two weeks ago, we received an urgent call about an unclad woman in front of the state secretariat main entrance gate who was wrongfully accused of being a witch, thereby leading to serious beating.
“We swung into action immediately and rescued her from being lynched by the angry mob”.
“We took her to one of our centres for adequate care and protection and thank God that today, the State government has rehabilitated her and she is now in her stable mind to return to her family hale and hearty, she said”.
The septuagenarian, thanked God for sparing her life and Oyo state government for rescuing her.
She said she was once a petty trader at Agbeni market Ibadan and later moved to Bodija market doing menial jobs for survival before the incident occurred.
“I gave birth to seven children, I lost four to untimely death and the most painful one was when I lost my twins to the cold hands of death and later my husband died too.
“I was distressed and some people wanted to collect the only property my husband left for me, which is an uncompleted building that I used as a shelter.
Fighting back tears while narrating her ordeal, she said, “On the day that the state government rescued my soul, I went to Bodija market for my usual menial job.
“I usually carry loads for people. they accused me that am a witch, tore all my clothes and wished me death, but God in His infinite mercy rescued my soul. I am grateful to Governor Seyi Makinde for show of love”.
Receiving her Mother, Mr Taiwo Olawale who was accompanied by her aunty, Mrs Nosiratu Buhari appreciated the efforts of the State government for the adequate care and protection given to her mother in due course.
He explained further that her mother has been battling with an unstable state of mind since the year 1999 and the family has been getting medical attention not until recently the situation intensified to an unpleasant state.”
A medical staff of the partnering Non-Governmental Organization, Emmanuel Rehabilitation center for the Mentally ill, Oja’gbo, Ibadan, Dr Adeniyi Lawal attributed Madam Olawale’s illness to ‘Senile Dementia’.