A non-governmental organization that caters for the welfare of abandoned children in Akwa Ibom State, Child Rights and Rehabilitation Network (CRARN) on Tuesday, May 24, 2016, rescued a child abandoned by his step-father over allegations of witchcraft.
This is even as the step-father, Mr. Albert Silvanus Uso, has been arrested by the police for using hot knives on the body of the stepson and sent him away from the home.
According to Ibom Media, the 34 years old Uso was said to have steamed the knife in the fire and burnt the stepson, Victor, severally on different parts of the body, after tying him to ensure he does not escape from his torture.
Uso, who hails from Eket in Esit Local Government Area of the state is currently in police custody.
The divisional police officer of Eket, Abdulkadir Jamal, told journalists that his officers had to go after Uso because he had warned that child witch-branding and torture was not acceptable anywhere in the world.
“The Police have frequently warned that people should not hide under any guise to abuse children. We will do everything under the law to arrest and prosecute any offenders.
“We saw the wounds and scars on the child’s body and we consider it inhumane and Barbaric. It’s not a sight you could stand, so I ordered for his immediate arrest.” The police boss asserted.
Albert Uso was arrested penultimate Friday, 2:00 AM, in Efoi – Eket where he currently resides, after a complaint was lodged in the Eket Divisional Police Headquarters by a children’s right group, the Child’s Right and Rehabilitation Network (CRARN) an NGO that also caters for abandoned children in Akwa Ibom State.
It was learnt that Victor was rescued by a volunteered officer of CRARN in a nearby market when he crept out of the bush to scavenge for food after the close of the market.
He said he had been in the bush for several days without food and eating merely raw leaves and unripe fruits.
