…Reunites her with Family<\/p>\n
The Oyo State government on Thursday rescued a homeless old woman, Madam
\nSilifatu Olawale, who was found to be mentally challenged and accused of
\npossession of witchcraft in the city of Ibadan.<\/p>\n
Handing her over to her relatives, the Commissioner for Women Affairs
\nand Social Inclusion, Alhaja Kafilat Olayiwola condemned in its totality
\nthe act of jungle justice and unjust treatment of suspected mentally ill
\npersons in the society by members of the public.<\/p>\n
Olayiwola who said the act is barbaric and traumatizing, advised members
\nof the public to always hand over such cases to the appropriate
\nauthorities for further investigation, as wrongful acts are not
\nreversible.<\/p>\n
Alhaja Olayiwola who spoke through the Director of Administrative and
\nSupplies, Barrister Olumuyiwa Olagoke said, “our people should be
\ncautious and avoid unlawful deeds that can truncate the peaceful
\natmosphere in the state”.<\/p>\n
Speaking on Madam 74-year-old Madam Silifatu Olawale’s case, the
\nCommissioner said, “about two weeks ago, we received an urgent call
\nabout an unclad woman in front of the state secretariat main entrance
\ngate who was wrongfully accused of being a witchcraft thereby leading to
\nserious beating, we swung into action immediately and rescue her from
\nbeing lynched by the angry mob”.<\/p>\n
“We took her to one of our centers for adequate care and protection and
\nthank God that today, the State government has rehabilitated her and she
\nnow in her stable mind to return to her family hale and hearty, she
\nsaid”.<\/p>\n
Narrating her ordeal, the septuagenarian, who spoke with heart of
\ngratitude to God for sparing her life and to Oyo state government for
\nsaid she was once a petty trader at Agbeni market Ibadan and later moved
\nto Bodija market doing menial jobs for survival before the incident
\noccurred.<\/p>\n
“I gave birth to seven children, I lost four to untimely death and the
\nmost painful one was when I lost my twins to the cold hands of death and
\nlater my husband died too. I was distressed and some people wanted to
\ncollect the only property my husband left for me, which is an
\nuncompleted building that I used as a shelter.<\/p>\n
Fighting back tears while narrating her ordeal, she said, “On the day
\nthat the state government rescued my soul, I went to Bodija market for
\nmy usual menial job, I usually carry loads for people, they accused me
\nthat am a witch, tore all my clothes and wished me death, but God in His
\ninfinite mercy rescued my soul, am grateful to Governor Seyi Makinde for
\nshow of love”.<\/p>\n
Receiving her Mother, Mr Taiwo Olawale who was accompanied by her aunty,
\nMrs Nosiratu Buhari appreciated the efforts of the State government for
\nthe adequate care and protection given to her mother in due course.<\/p>\n
He explained further that her mother has been battling with an unstable
\nstate of mind since the year 1999 and the family has been getting
\nmedical attention not until recently the situation intensified to an
\nunpleasant state.”<\/p>\n
Speaking on the state of health of the survivor, the Medical Personnel
\nof the partnering Non-Governmental Organization, Emmanuel Rehabilitation
\ncenter for the Mentally ill, Oja’gbo, Ibadan, Dr Adeniyi Lawal
\nidentified Madam Olawale’s illness as ‘Senile Dementia’.<\/p>\n
In another development, the Commissioner for Trade, Industry Investment
\nand Cooperatives, Barr. Olasunkanmi Olaleye has stressed the State
\nGovernment’s interest in the activities of the organized private sector.<\/p>\n
He said the Governor Seyi Makinde led administration has awarded
\ninfrastructural, road contracts and propositions of Industrial Estate in
\norder to ease problems of entrepreneurs and expand the economy of the
\nstate.<\/p>\n
He disclosed this while speaking at the quarterly meeting of the Oyo
\nCouncil of Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture & Other
\nOrganised Private Sectors, held at Western Hall, Secretariat, Ibadan, on
\nWednesday, 1st December, 2021.<\/p>\n
…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…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":89491,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-89490","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n