The wife of Bayelsa governor, Dr Gloria Diri, on Thursday, led a public campaign against ritual killing due to recent cases of attempted ritual killings experienced in the state.
A student of the Niger Delta University (NDU), Deborah Emafidion and a 13-year-old girl (name withheld) were recently rescued from suspected ritualists in the state.
The public campaign organised by the Gender Response Initiative Team (GRIT) and other groups commenced with a 12-kilometre walk and distribution of flyers from Ekeki Park, Azikoro road, to the Peace Park, in the state capital.
Dr Diri expressed concern over the involvement of teenagers in attempted ritual killings in the state.
According to her, “The land of Bayelsa rejects such a dastardly act, and by this peace walk, the stakeholders in the state reject such acts. The youths and women of Bayelsa reject it. I urge everyone to be their brothers’ keeper. If they try it in other states, Bayelsa will not condone it any longer.
“For every one that enters the state, the gods of the lands and the security agents are watching. Let us watch and protect one another against ritual killing. For those caught in the act, we will ensure that the law takes its course.
“We are also now against out-of-court settlements and we want the law to punish the perpetrators.”
