The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Akwa Ibom has saved a 12-year-old girl named Bright Sunday. She was locked up in a very old and broken house by her father for two years. This happened in Ikot Ukporo Idoro village, which is in Ibiono Ibom local government area.
Speaking to the press, the NSCDC leader in Akwa Ibom, Mr. Eluyemi Eluwade, said that Bright’s father, Ndifreke Sunday, who is 38 years old, and her stepmother, Victory Sunday, 28 years old, were the ones who did this. They wrongly accused her of being a witch.
The rescue happened because someone from the Ministry of Justice told the NSCDC about it.
When they checked, they found that the father and stepmother were breaking the law. They did very bad things to Bright, which is against the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law of 2020.
Mr. Eluwade said they arrested Bright’s father and stepmother on Tuesday, September 10, in Ikot Ukporo Idoro Village after getting the complaint.
They admitted to locking Bright up because they believed she was a witch and blamed her for their problems.
Bright’s story is very sad. She said she was kept in a terrible room without enough food, water, or a chance to wash. Her stepmother beat her often.
Bright was only given food once every two days, could only bathe twice a month, and was not allowed to go to school.
Mr. Eluwade said this treatment of Bright is very bad and cruel. He asked all parents to never do such things to their children. He also said that the government will continue to catch and punish people who hurt children.
Now, Bright is safe and is being taken care of at a special home for children who have been hurt. The people who hurt her will go to court and face the law for what they did.