A wave of public outrage has erupted following the shocking dehumanization of a 71-year-old widow, Madam Sudinah Andrew, by members of a local vigilante group in Korokorosei Community, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.
A viral video circulating online captured the distressing scene, where the elderly woman was chained to a pole at the Market Square, a humiliating and barbaric act that has drawn nationwide condemnation.
According to the End Violence Against Women and Children (EVAWC), a non-governmental organization advocating for women’s rights, the incident occurred on January 28, 2025. Reports indicate that the victim was rescued after petitions were filed with the Nigerian police and several women’s rights groups.
EVAWC’s team lead revealed that the widow was falsely accused of wielding a cutlass against her daughter during a family dispute. However, investigations later proved the claims baseless, suggesting a deeper vendetta against her.
Sources say some members of the vigilante group harbored a long-standing grudge against Madam Andrew for her role in their arrest last year over allegations of harassment. The group, allegedly led by Opukiri Ogbe, CDC Chairman Ayibaditon Fiokorighe, and two others, was arrested by the Bayelsa Police Command after being accused of false allegations, inhumane treatment, and harassment.
On January 28, 2025, the vigilantes reportedly stormed the widow’s residence, dragged her through the streets, and paraded her publicly before chaining her to a pole at the Market Square. Witnesses claim she was left there overnight, in pain and distress, until January 29.
Madam Andrew’s brother, Mr. Thankgod Andrew, disclosed that the vigilantes demanded N50,000 or a punishment of 55 strokes of the cane as a condition for her release. However, swift intervention by her relatives, coupled with pressure from human rights groups and petitions to the police, led to her eventual rescue.
She was immediately rushed to the Government House Clinic in Yenagoa for emergency medical care. Speaking from her hospital bed, the widow described her ordeal as deeply traumatic.
“I was holding a cutlass because I was about to go into the bush to cut plantain. My ‘daughter,’ whose mother lives in another village, was being disrespectful, and I was only cautioning her. Suddenly, they pounced on me, accusing me of an offense I never committed,” she recounted.
Women’s rights activists and civil society organizations have strongly condemned the inhumane treatment of the widow, demanding immediate justice.
Comrade Tina Tari Youdubagha, EVAWC team lead and a member of the coalition of women-led organizations in Bayelsa, described the act as barbaric and a violation of fundamental human rights.
“This is inhumane and unacceptable. We call on the Bayelsa State Police Command to investigate this matter thoroughly and ensure justice for Madam Andrew,” she declared.
Similarly, Dr. Dise Ogbise Goddy Harry, founder of the Do Foundation, expressed deep outrage, saying:
“This is another painful case of man’s inhumanity to man. We cannot continue to tolerate people taking the law into their own hands—acting as complainants, persecutors, prosecutors, and judges all at once. We demand a comprehensive investigation and justice for this woman. The perpetrators must be held accountable.”
She further revealed that an official complaint had been lodged with the Bayelsa Non-Governmental Forum (BANGOF).
Pressure Mounts on Bayelsa Authorities
As the demand for justice intensifies, all eyes are now on the Bayelsa State Police Command. Civil society organizations, women’s rights groups, and concerned citizens insist that this blatant abuse of power must not go unpunished.
The brutal treatment of Madam Sudinah Andrew has sparked a broader conversation about community policing, human rights violations, and the urgent need for stricter regulations on vigilante activities.
Will the Bayelsa State government take decisive action, or will justice be denied once again? The nation watches closely.
PIONEER NEWS 