Suspected female cultists on the run after damaging classmate’s eye

NEWS DIGEST – A suspected female cultist and her gang have badly damaged the right eye of one miss Lilian Friday, a 16-year-old ss2  student of community secondary school (css) otuoke, in ogbia local government area of Bayelsa state.

The incident was said to have happened late,  on the 26th day of April, 2018 at otuoke community. The suspected cultist whose name was given simply as Josephine, an ss1 student of the aforementioned school was said to have been mounting pressure and persuading her victim to join her cult group which she declined persistently.

The victim’s uncle Mr. Benson Agiobu who took to his Facebook wall on the said day of the incident narrated his niece’s horrendous experience while she was returning from his house.

“On her way,  she (Lilian, the victim)  met her class mate on the way who insisted that Lilian must belong to her cult group. When Lilian refused her for the umpteenth time, she was vexed.

“It was at this point she alerted members of her confraternity who where with her (the assailant)

” Members of the cult group held Lilian down while she was stabbed in the eye with a sharp object by Josephine and they took off.” he said

“Josephine (the suspected female cultist) is a native of Ayakoro and Otuokpoti Communities,  in Ogbia Local Government Area, while my niece (the victim is a native of Emeyal 1 and Otuobhi communities, all in Ogbia Local Government.” he added

While the victim is presently receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital in Bayelsa state, there are indications that she might certainly have a surgery in the process. However, the suspects and her gang have since taken to their heels and efforts to get them arrested  have not been successful though the matter has been reported at the Police station, Kolo Division.

Speaking on the development, a human rights activist and convener of Patriotism Advancement and Community Orientation Network (PACON), a non-governmental organization Comr. Aluzu Augustine described the act as barbaric and demonic.

Speaking to our correspondent in yenagoa, Aluzu said his organization has been on a campaign against cultism and drug abuse in Bayelsa state since March 11, 2018.

He called on more support for the campaign against cultism and drug abuse saying it has eaten deep into the fabrics of society.

“Nothing breaks our heart more than getting reports like this. Especially, when the perpetrators are children

“The Nigeria Police Force Bayelsa State Command has done great in fighting cultism in the state however, efforts needs to be doubled in communities outside yenagoa.

“There is need for community policing. All stakeholders in Bayelsa state need to come out so we can collectively stamp out cultism from the state.

“It is our belief that the act is induced by opioid because no right thinking individual would gather so much wickedness in her heart to injure a fellow human”. He said