Bayelsa Man Dies After Being Flogged Over Alleged Rape of Minor

A 47-year-old man, known as Mr. Emi Sigah, has allegedly died after enduring severe flogging in the Ekowe community located in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, following accusations of raping a 10-year- old girl.

Sources indicate that this incident took place on Wednesday.

Reports suggest that the man lost consciousness after receiving approximately 40 lashes as part of a customary punishment that can amount to 120 strokes for those accused of such crimes within the community.

Local residents noted that this punishment is a long-standing tradition in Ekowe, where every family in the community administers 10 lashes, culminating in a total of 120 strokes as a deterrent against sexual offences, which are deeply condemned and viewed as sacrilegious acts.

It was reported that the minor, whose name has been withheld, had gone with her aunt to a nearby farm to harvest okra when she was allegedly ambushed by Sigah while her aunt was momentarily distracted.

The suspect was reportedly discovered while he was in the act of assaulting the child in a secluded area.

In accordance with Ekowe’s traditional customs, Sigah was subjected to a full 120-stroke punishment; however, he fainted after 40 strikes and was subsequently pronounced dead.

Some community members attempted to intervene and proposed paying between N15,000 and N50,000 to mitigate the flogging, but the youth insisted that tradition should prevail as a lesson for others.

The Chairman of the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Mr. Target Segibo, confirmed the occurrence in a statement relayed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Ayebaitari Easterday. He reported that peace has been restored in the community thanks to prompt action from the council and law enforcement.

Segibo announced that the community's youth president and three other individuals have been arrested in connection with the suspect's demise and are currently detained at the Criminal Investigative Department (CID) of the Bayelsa State Police Command in Yenagoa.

Easterday added that police in Oporoma, which is the headquarters of Southern Ijaw LGA, along with council representatives, have retrieved Sigah’s body and taken it for examination at the Federal Medical Centre morgue in Yenagoa.

He condemned the actions of the community youths, describing them as contrary to modern legal processes in handling criminal cases. He urged residents to seek legal channels and report such incidents to the proper authorities instead of taking the law into their own hands.

He stated, 'While the Council does not condone the offensive act of attempted rape against a minor, the response by the youths was inappropriate.'

He continued, 'It would have been more responsible for them to notify law enforcement to ensure the law was upheld.'

Upon inquiry, the Bayelsa State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Musa Mohammed, mentioned that the incident is still under investigation but assured that efforts are ongoing.