Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Akwa Ibom State have rescued a 12-year-old girl who had been allegedly imprisoned, tortured, and starved by her father and stepmother for two years.
The parents claimed the child was a witch and responsible for the family’s misfortunes.
The NSCDC’s Akwa Ibom Command spokesperson, SC Friday Ekerete, revealed that the arrests of the father, Mr. Ndifreke Sunday Etok, 38, and his wife, Mrs. Victory Fortune Sunday, 28, were made following a tip-off from the Ministry of Justice. The couple is now in custody, facing charges of child deprivation and abuse.
According to Ekerete, the suspects admitted to locking up the girl but claimed it was because she had confessed to being a witch. The father further alleged that the girl would disappear for weeks at a time when released, fueling their suspicion of her supposed supernatural powers.
The victim, identified as Miss Bright Fortune Sunday, recounted her horrific ordeal. She revealed that she was confined to a squalid room, often beaten by her stepmother, and denied basic needs. “I was fed once every two days, allowed to bathe just twice a month, and deprived of education,” she said. She also admitted to falsely confessing to witchcraft to stop the constant beatings.
Parading the suspects before the media, NSCDC Commandant Eluwade Eluyemi condemned the inhumane treatment, describing the case as “barbaric and heinous.” He stressed that such actions violate Chapter 4 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees the dignity and rights of every Nigerian. Eluyemi urged parents to seek professional help rather than resort to cruelty under the guise of superstition.
The commandant also emphasized the importance of Akwa Ibom State’s free and compulsory education policy, warning that denying children their right to education is a serious offence. He further highlighted the provisions of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law of 2020, which criminalizes unlawful deprivation of personal liberty. Offenders could face up to two years in prison, a fine of N500,000, or both.
The young girl has since been transferred to a Gender-Based Violence Shelter Home for care and rehabilitation, while the suspects are awaiting formal prosecution.
