Lucky escape
The National, Friday July 25th, 2014
By JAMES APA GUMUNO
A MOTHER of five was allegedly stripped naked, assaulted and interrogated in her house for six hours after her husband’s tribesmen accused her of practicing sorcery and removing the heart of her brother-in-law.
Enga provincial police commander, acting Supt George Kakas said yesterday villagers at Teremanda, outside Wabag town, used hot iron rods to burn Leni Kukum and cut her with knives.
He said they demanded that Kukum return the heart and put it back into her brother in-law.
Kakas said he was alerted by a missionary and sent his policemen to Kuimas village on July 8 to rescue the woman.
He said Kukum was seriously wounded and was admitted to the Mambisenta hospital, in Wapenamanda district.
Kakas said she was afraid of further attacks and escaped from the hospital after spending only a night there.
He said Kukum had gone into hiding and police did not know of her whereabouts.
Kakas said her eldest child was in grade 9, while the youngest was in grade 1.
“I want to appeal to Leni Kukum to report to Wabag police station to lay a formal complaint and police will go and arrest the people attacking her of practicing sorcery,” he said.
He said this was the first case of sorcery reported in Enga and police would investigate and deal with the people involved in the attack on the woman.
“I want to know from these attackers, where and when they saw the poor woman perform surgery and remove the heart of her brother in-law,” Kakas said.
Kakas warned people who accused others of practicing sorcery would be arrested and charged.
He said police in Enga would not condone violence against people who allegedly practiced sorcery.