Residents hunt down police for bringing back suspected wizards

General News of Saturday, July 20, 2019

Source: Myjoyonline.com

2019-07-20

Residents of Zarantinga, a community near Nalerigu in the Northeast region, rejected the reinstatement of two alleged witches in the community.

Madugu and Fulena, aged seventy, have been accused by the old women of being the source of many of the community's woes, including the paralysis of a young man.

Illiasu Tanko, Joy News correspondent for the Northeast region, reported that the two people had been tortured by residents and sent to Gambaga's palace, where suspects of witchcraft are being tried.

He said Raa Na and his wizard-doctor council declared Madugu and Fulena innocent. They have asked that the women be returned to the community, but the residents have none.

Angry youth and elders chased out police trying to enforce the judgment of Chief Gambaga and his council outside the community.

Residents threatened to harm Madugu and Fulena if they were sent back to the community.

Efforts by the Regional Reintegration Committee to dissolve alleged wizards to convince community members to allow women to stay at home have resulted in no results.

Illiasu Tanku confirmed that the two women had been transferred to a secret location for their safety.

The sending of alleged witches to the Gambaga witches camp has been going on since the 18th century, a practice that has been condemned as a violation of human rights.

But attitudes towards the accused, usually elderly women, persist. They suffer stigma and ostracization even after being recognized as innocent by the leaders.

The Ministry of Gender and Social Protection said it remained committed to closing the witch camps, but stressed that its efforts were hampered by the refusal of several suspected wizards to return home.

Some women participate in the government's social intervention program, the Livelihoods Empowerment Program (LEAP).