CROSSJOF condemns killings of widows in Boki LGA

Emmanuel Alfred

Cross River State Journalists in FCT Abuja, under the aegis of Cross River State Journalists Forum, (CROSJOF) have condemned in strong terms the killing of two widows whose names were given as Martina Osom and Rose Akon.

The duo were accused of withcraft and lynched by some youths in Ebbaken community in Boje, Boki Local Government of Cross River State.

CROSSJOF gathered that both women were returning from morning mass in a Catholic Church located in the community before they were both apprehended and tortured until they died.

CROSSJOF is therefore calling on the law enforcement agency to ensure that such gruesome acts are stopped forthwith by bringing to book the perpetrators.

Every person has a right to life as stated in Section 33(1) of the 1999 Nigerian constitution as amended; thus: “every person has a right to life and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his life, save in execution of the sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offense of which he has been found guilty by a competent court of jurisdiction in Nigeria”. This is one death too many and has to stop especially as the electioneering period approaches.

In a release signed by Comrade Ignatius Ushie, Chairman CROSSJOF said the body calls on all law enforcement agencies to be more alert to their responsibilities to forestall such acts and nip them in the bud to avoid total breakdown of law and order.

It is also established that the perpetrators are members of the same community and are known to the villagers, if such is not discouraged it may continue. Recall that jungle justice has no place in the law, every offence must be reported to the police for appropriate actions to be taken in line with the law.

CROSSJOF, therefore, appeals to the community leaders in Boje to handover those involved in this dastardly act to the appropriate authority and call for calm for proper investigations to be carried out. The youths and families of the deceased should remain calm and allow diligent investigations into the matter.