ALLEGED ORGAN HARVESTING: GIVE US JUSTICE— VICTIM’S FAMILY BEGS POLICE
REPORTER: UCHE NDEKE
The family of a seventy two year old woman, Charity Okolie, whose vital organs were allegedly harvested by some boys in Umunze Community, Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, has appealed to government and security agencies to ensure that justice is served on the suspects.
According to the family, ensuring justice in the case, will no doubt serve as a deterrent to others who may wish to commit such abominable act.
The three suspects, who hail from Ebonyi State, resides in Umunze from where they move around to cut palm fruits for the people of the area.
Radio Nigeria gathered that at about 4:00am, the suspects knocked at the door of the 72 year old woman, who happened to be one of their customers, requesting that they wanted to drink water.
Not suspecting anything, Mrs. Charity Okolie, opened her door to the boys, who allegedly attacked her immediately and started harvesting her vital organs including, fingers, anus, nipples, ear, clitoris and tongue.
A nurse, who lives close by, narrated that she heard the woman shouting and ran out to call neighbors for help since she could not rescue her alone in such hour of the day.
It was when the neighbors gathered that the victim, Mrs. Charity Okolie, who was already bleeding used signs to point under the bed where one of the suspects, Onyebuchi Eze, was hidding while others had run away.
Another eyewitness, who did not mention his name, told our correspondent that the suspect after he was apprehended, narrated that a native doctor in Achalla Community, in Awka North Local Government Area requested them to get the vital organs for money rituals.
He explained that the suspects did not use knife or scissors to cut the organs but only used bare teeth as they were all naked while performing the act.
One of the sons of the victim, Mr. Chikioke Okolie, called on government to make sure that justice would be served and perpetrators brought to book.
In an interview shortly after visiting the victim at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital, Awka, Anambra State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs. Ify Obinabo, described the incident as barbaric and inhuman occasioned by get rich quick syndrome among some misguided youths.
Mrs. Obinabo, who noted that the Anambra State Government would ensure that the woman recuperates in the hospital, gave an assurance that the apprehended suspect would be arraigned in court without any delay.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Anambra State Command, Mr. Tochukwu Ikenga, told Radio Nigeria that the fleeing suspects, including the native doctor, would be apprehended as the command had already deployed all its arsenal towards getting justice in the matter.
EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU
