Gov Hope Uzodinma: Harassment of Joseph Ottih and Family Must Stop

The Advocacy for Alleged Witches urges the governor of Imo state, Senator Hope Uzodinma, to call the Tigerbase police station to order following the continued persecution and harassment of Joseph Ottih and his family. Joseph Ottih is a blind man and a traditionalist from Oguta, in Imo state. His wife and son are languishing in detention at the moment for trumped up charges.

In December, the police raided the premises of Joseph Ottih. They forcefully removed his Agwu(deity) following complaints and petitions from christian relatives, Vivian Ottih and her brother Hilary Ottih, who lives in the US. As a traditional religious practitioner, Joseph Ottih had traditional religious objects, which they said were spiritually disturbing the peace in the family and community. In January, the police arrested Joseph's wife, Obiageri, put her in the trunk of a car, and detained her for 5 days.

The family paid 150 thousand naira before she was released. Meanwhile, the Tigerbase police unit has refused to charge the case to court; they have been inviting and extorting money from the Ottihs. They have seized the phone of Joseph Ottih, lured the son, Uchenna, to the station, and detained him. The police tried to arrest his daughter, Favour, without success. They are trying to arrest his other children for detention and extortion of money. Joseph Ottih and his lawyer have been at the state police command and the Tigerbase station, urging them to charge the case to court or release the wife and son. However, these appeals to the Officer in Charge, Oladimeji Odeyeyiwa, and the investigative police officer, Chikadibia (Kill and Bury), have fallen on deaf ears.

Gov Hope Uzodinma must step in and call the Tigerbase police unit to order. Gov Uzodinma must end the harassment and abuse of the Ottih family. TheTigerbase police unit is notorious for extortion, persecution, and harassment of suspects. The case of Joseph Ottih has clearly shown the impunity and illegality in the Tigerbase police operations.

Again this is a case of state religious persecution. The police forcefully removed his Agwu. The Ottihs have the right to practise their traditional religious beliefs. At a time that Nigeria has been called out for state enablement and neglect of religious persecution, Gov Uzodinma must exercise wisdom and take measures to stop the harassment, violation, and persecution of Joseph Ottih and family.

Leo Igwe directs the Advocacy for Alleged Witches