Madam Sudinah Andrew, the 71-year-old widow who was last week chained to a pole at the Market Square in Korokorosei Community, Bayelsa State, was in addition fined N50,000 and was threatened with 50 strokes of the cane.

Her younger brother, Mr. ThankGod Bukuromo Andrew, disclosed this on Wednesday when a coalition of women-led organisations in Bayelsa visited the victim at the hospital where she is currently receiving treatment.

“She was accused falsely that she was caught trying to machete her niece and we were asked to pay N50,000 and was threatened with 50 strokes of cane,” Mr. Andrew disclosed.

Madam Sudinah Andrew was chained to a pole at the Market Square in Korokorosei Community, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, by some members of the community vigilante group, provoking outrage among women groups in the state.

The Coalition of Women Organisations said the visit to the hospital was to assure the widow that they are supporting her and are calling for the arrest of individuals involved in her public embarrassment and brutality.

Among the members of the coalition were Vice Chairperson of the Dise Ogbise Foundation, Selekere Preye; Team lead of the End Violence Against Women and Children, Tari Youdubagha; Hon Joy Salo of Friday Konyefa Foundation; Prince Osain of Okpoitari Diongoli; Lady Stella Doumo of Kosiate Boy Child Foundation; and Reverend Mrs Roseline Egbesu of the Women Wing of Christian Association of Nigeria (South-South).

The Leader of the Do Foundation Team. Barr. Dise Goddy Harry, while speaking during the visit, said the various advocacy groups in the state were at the hospital to give moral support to the hospitalised widow. She called on the Nigerian Police, the State Government and the Bayelsa Non-Governmental Forum (BANGOF) to summon the vigilante members involved to explain their roles in the public disgrace of the elderly woman.

Barr. Dise Goddy Harry said: “We were told that she was dragged through the market square and tied to a pole like a common criminal. We are calling on the Bayelsa State Government and the Nigerian Police to investigate the incident.

“The action of the vigilante members is an infringement on the fundamental human rights of this 71 years old widow. There is no beliefs or culture that is above the Nigerian constitution. As a woman, we stand by you.”

Barr. Harry also called on traditional rulers and community heads to review some beliefs and traditions that are inimical to the welfare and wellbeing women and children in their domain, urging that women needs to be protected against maltreated and unfair conducts.

Also speaking, the Team Lead of the End Violence Against Women and Children (EVAWC), Tari Tina Youdubagha, condemned the action of the members of the vigilante group. She declared that the coalition of women groups is demanding that those behind the dastardly act be brought to justice.

Hajia Balikis of the Federation of Women Muslims Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), Bayelsa State Chapter, also assured the widow of the support of the Muslim women. “You are our mother. What they did to you is wrong. What they have done is injustice to every woman,” she said.

Mr. ThankGod Bukuromo Andrew, younger brother to the widow, described the incident as a sad one to the entire family, saying: “We were shocked to hear that she was dragged through the community. If we had protested, there would have been crisis in the community. But as peace loving people, we approached the police and women organisations.”

Also speaking, son of the widow, Dr. Ebimobotei Mao Bunu, expressed sadness over the incident. He lamented that despite the release of her mother following a police order, “when I got to the community, I saw my mother tied to a pole with slave chains and some elderly women were playing draft as if they were happily enjoying her suffering.”

“For me, if I want to take law into my hands, it will promote crisis. Now, they have started tagging us as breakers of law and order,” Dr. Bunu added.