A WOMAN AND HER SON WERE DISPLACED AS A RESULT OF FAMILY FETISH TRADITIONAL OATH AT A SHRINE IN YOGBO IN BENUE STATE

Sequel to an incident that happened on February 27, 2025, Jacob Okoh Close in Lagos, where the family of Jacob Okoh are having a wedding ceremony for their adopted sister, Ikwo Regina Ndong, Terpase Baya, Nguhu Baya and a few other persons stormed the venue believing that Faith Baya and her son John Baya were present.

These persons are step in-laws to Faith Baya as we were told and that they have been threatening to kill Faith and her son John and constantly looking out for them.

Our reporter was informed that after heated arguments which later led to fighting, one of Faith Baya’s brothers Emeke Okoh was seriously wounded with bruises on his body and was taken to the hospital where he spent two nights for medical treatment and close monitoring while the incident was reported to the police authority.

Our reporter further questioning why this attack, our reporter was told that Faith Baya was asked to drink the bath water they used to bath her death husband and take fetish oath to prove her innocence on the death of her husband years back. Which some group of women say they are not happy about the situation because it violates the right of women. One woman who pleaded to remain anonymous when our reporter approached her testified that when the threats and the situation was unbearable for Faith for her refusal to yield to the family advice to take an oath and drink the water used to bath the corpse of her spouse she ran away with her son for her safety from Asaba, Delta State to Lagos with hope that her in-law will not know her whereabout.

To confirm the validity of the incident, our reporter also interrogated another resident at that area who also said that a group of armed gang attacked this same family during a three years anniversary of Faith Baya’s late mother; Mrs. P.D Okoh thinking that Faith Baya and her son John Baya were there as they were not present during her mother’s funeral. That, the attack led to one of Faith Baya’s brothers being hurt and one of their aunties died because of gun wound from the incident.

Our reporter also learnt that the presence of government security agents is hardly felt in the neighbourhood, and that a local security group called vigilante keep watch over the community between midnight and 6a.m daily, as matters concerning insecurity has become a national issue. However, we were told that this issue was reported to the Police for further investigation.

Meanwhile, all efforts aimed at reaching the Faith’s in-law proved abortive because they are adamant in ensuring Faith and her son, John Baya were punished due to Faith Baya refusal to take the fetish oath and to share the properties of her Late husband with her in-laws.

In all of this, we were told that Faith Baya and her son John Baya are said to be safe in Canada by an eyewitness where they are, and it is evident that their lives are still at risk when returned to Nigeria from all the information gathered. The full protection of women is yet to be guaranteed in the Nigeria, but we learnt that some women in the house of Representative and Senate (National Assembly) in Abuja that were elected in conjunction with civil right organizations are working to propose a bill and amendment that would guaranteed the rights of women especially a widow against unlawful treatment and harassment of widow and women in Nigeria.