In an undisclosed hospital where she is receiving treatment alongside her son, Mrs. Hellen Godwin, wife of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officer Mr. Fada Okeruwa Godwin, has recounted the traumatic events that allegedly left her family severely injured and forced her husband into hiding.
Speaking in a weak voice during an interview with Ika Weekly, Mrs. Godwin said the incident occurred on September 1, 2022, following a dispute she linked to alleged religious intolerance and cult-related activities in their residence at 45B Ezenei Avenue, Asaba.
“My husband is a Christian, and we always pray in our house every morning and night,” she said. “There is a neighbor named Moses, who is a Muslim. He was always angry whenever we prayed. He once told my husband to join Islam, but my husband refused.”
According to her, the crisis began when their son, Divine Godwin, was singing Christian songs in front of their apartment and was allegedly confronted by Moses’ son, Ibrahim, who demanded that he stop.
“My son refused, and a fight started. During the struggle, Ibrahim’s arm was broken,” she explained.
Mrs. Godwin alleged that the boy’s father immediately summoned members of a cult group he reportedly led, known in the area as Aro Barga.
“They came in large numbers and attacked us. They beat me and my son mercilessly. It was only because neighbors raised the alarm that we were not beaten to death,” she said, struggling to hold back tears.
She further disclosed that her husband was on official duty when he received a distress call and rushed home, only to find his wife and son critically injured.
“When he reported the matter to his office, NSCDC officers came to the area, but the attackers were prepared for them. There was gunfire, and two officers were killed. After that, the situation became worse,” she alleged.
Mrs. Godwin claimed that following the clash, the alleged cult leader began issuing threats against her husband and the entire family.
“They said they would get him dead or alive and wipe out all of us because some of their members died during the exchange of gunfire,” she said.
According to her, the threats became so severe that authorities eventually transferred her husband out of Delta State, but the family has continued to live in fear.
“We are still afraid. Even here in the hospital, we do not feel completely safe. I just want justice for my son and for my family,” she added.
For security reasons, the exact location of the hospital and the identities of the medical personnel attending to the victims were withheld.
As of the time of filing this report, efforts to obtain an official response from the Delta State Command of the NSCDC and the Nigeria Police Force regarding the allegations were ongoing.
Culled from Ika Weekly
