…Reunites her with Family
The Oyo State government on Thursday rescued a homeless old woman, Madam
Silifatu Olawale, who was found to be mentally challenged and accused of
possession of witchcraft in the city of Ibadan.
Handing her over to her relatives, the Commissioner for Women Affairs
and Social Inclusion, Alhaja Kafilat Olayiwola condemned in its totality
the act of jungle justice and unjust treatment of suspected mentally ill
persons in the society by members of the public.
Olayiwola who said the act is barbaric and traumatizing, advised members
of the public to always hand over such cases to the appropriate
authorities for further investigation, as wrongful acts are not
reversible.
Alhaja Olayiwola who spoke through the Director of Administrative and
Supplies, Barrister Olumuyiwa Olagoke said, “our people should be
cautious and avoid unlawful deeds that can truncate the peaceful
atmosphere in the state”.
Speaking on Madam 74-year-old Madam Silifatu Olawale’s case, the
Commissioner said, “about two weeks ago, we received an urgent call
about an unclad woman in front of the state secretariat main entrance
gate who was wrongfully accused of being a witchcraft thereby leading to
serious beating, we swung into action immediately and rescue her from
being lynched by the angry mob”.
“We took her to one of our centers for adequate care and protection and
thank God that today, the State government has rehabilitated her and she
now in her stable mind to return to her family hale and hearty, she
said”.
Narrating her ordeal, the septuagenarian, who spoke with heart of
gratitude to God for sparing her life and to Oyo state government for
said she was once a petty trader at Agbeni market Ibadan and later moved
to Bodija market doing menial jobs for survival before the incident
occurred.
“I gave birth to seven children, I lost four to untimely death and the
most painful one was when I lost my twins to the cold hands of death and
later my husband died too. I was distressed and some people wanted to
collect the only property my husband left for me, which is an
uncompleted building that I used as a shelter.
Fighting back tears while narrating her ordeal, she said, “On the day
that the state government rescued my soul, I went to Bodija market for
my usual menial job, I usually carry loads for people, they accused me
that am a witch, tore all my clothes and wished me death, but God in His
infinite mercy rescued my soul, am grateful to Governor Seyi Makinde for
show of love”.
Receiving her Mother, Mr Taiwo Olawale who was accompanied by her aunty,
Mrs Nosiratu Buhari appreciated the efforts of the State government for
the adequate care and protection given to her mother in due course.
He explained further that her mother has been battling with an unstable
state of mind since the year 1999 and the family has been getting
medical attention not until recently the situation intensified to an
unpleasant state.”
Speaking on the state of health of the survivor, the Medical Personnel
of the partnering Non-Governmental Organization, Emmanuel Rehabilitation
center for the Mentally ill, Oja’gbo, Ibadan, Dr Adeniyi Lawal
identified Madam Olawale’s illness as ‘Senile Dementia’.
In another development, the Commissioner for Trade, Industry Investment
and Cooperatives, Barr. Olasunkanmi Olaleye has stressed the State
Government’s interest in the activities of the organized private sector.
He said the Governor Seyi Makinde led administration has awarded
infrastructural, road contracts and propositions of Industrial Estate in
order to ease problems of entrepreneurs and expand the economy of the
state.
He disclosed this while speaking at the quarterly meeting of the Oyo
Council of Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture & Other
Organised Private Sectors, held at Western Hall, Secretariat, Ibadan, on
Wednesday, 1st December, 2021.