Worried by the spate of arson in their community lately, Afuze women in their numbers on Friday night took to the streets naked to invoke a curse on those responsible for the fire incidents.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the women’s action, said to have the blessing of the elders, followed the burning of National Population Commission (NPC) office in Afuze on Monday night by yet to be identified persons. NAN learnt that elders of the community met during the week to take a hard stance on the matter.
Sources said the elders resolved to use traditional means to reveal those behind the acts.
NAN learnt that the women marched through major streets in the town, raining curses on those behind the acts.
A community leader and former NUJ President, Chief George Izobo, said the community had taken “some traditional measures to unravel the perpetrators of the acts”.
Izobo, who spoke in the company of another community leader, Chief James A. Okhikhiokhai, said the “Emai community is not happy with the development”, hence the stringent measures taken so far.
While condemning the acts, Izobo said the community was not happy with the NPC for not providing security for the burnt building.
He said the Emai community donated the building to the council for its use and urged the NPC to set up a panel to unravel the circumstances that led to the burning.
It will be recalled that during the Dec. 15, 2007 local government polls, the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission office in Afuze was set ablaze by some people.