The Oyo state government said on Friday it had rescued a 74-year-old woman, Madame Silifatu Olawale, from being lynched by a mob in Ibadan.
The woman, picked up by Newslodge, was accused of witchcraft.
Commissioner for Women’s Affairs and Social Inclusion Kafilat Olayiwola, in a statement made available to Newslodge on Friday, explained that the government rescued the elderly woman on Thursday.
He said the government had reunited the victim with his family on Friday.
He condemned the rate of jungle justice in Ibadan of late, saying the act was barbaric and traumatizing.
He advised members of the public to always turn such cases over to the proper authorities for further investigation, as wrongful acts are not reversible.
She said: “Our people must be cautious and avoid illicit acts that can truncate the peaceful atmosphere in the state.
“About two weeks ago, we received an urgent call about a naked woman in front of the main entrance door of the secretary of state who was wrongly accused of being a witch, resulting in a serious beating, we took action immediately and the we rescued from being lynched by the angry mob.
“We took her to one of our centers for adequate care and protection and thank God that today the state government has rehabilitated her and now she is in her stable mind to return to her healthy and cordial family.”
Mr. Taiwo Olawale, who received the elderly woman on behalf of the family, explained that the elderly woman has been struggling with an unstable mental state since 1999.
Our correspondent reports that the delivery of the old woman to her family comes a few hours after a middle-aged man was set on fire in Ibadan.
The man was charged with turning two students into yam tubers.
The incident occurred in front of Bashorun Ojoo High School on Friday.
The government of Oyo rescues a 74-year-old woman from being lynched by a mob in Ibadan