On November 8, 2025, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, a police inspector named Sunday Idey was arrested by operatives of the special police unit, Operation Doo Akpor, for allegedly brutalising his three children over accusations of witchcraft.
The inspector, attached to the Anti-Cultism unit at the Igbogene police station, reportedly assaulted his children during the weekend following allegations that they were members of a witchcraft group.
Community Outrage and Immediate Intervention
The incident shocked many residents of Yenagoa, sparking widespread outrage across the Bayelsa State capital.
Eyewitnesses reported that neighbors who observed the assault promptly alerted Operation Doo Akpor operatives.
The special unit quickly intervened, rescuing the children and rushing them to a nearby hospital for urgent medical treatment.
Police Leadership Responds Swiftly
Commissioner of Police, Mr. Francis Idu, confirmed the arrest of Sunday Idey and affirmed that investigations into the incident are ongoing.
He assured the public that justice will be pursued in the matter, reflecting the police force’s commitment to rooting out abuse and brutality within its ranks.
Grave Allegations Shake Public Trust
Many Bayelsa residents have expressed shock and disappointment.
Raising questions about the mental and moral state of officers tasked with enforcing the law.
Gender Rights Groups Condemn the Act
The incident has garnered strong condemnation from various gender rights and social justice advocates.
The Chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (Bayelsa chapter), Dr. Boma Toney Miebai, along with Dr. Dise Ogbise Goddy Harry of the National Association of Women Against Gender-Based Violence and Dianna Iluma Pius, Chairperson of the Do Foundation, all spoke out against the brutalisation.
Government Agencies Take Action
In response, the Ministry of Women Affairs and Gender sent representatives.
Including the Permanent Secretary, to both the police station and the hospital.
Their visit aimed to obtain firsthand information and ensure that the welfare of the children remains a government priority.
Calls for Accountability and Reforms
Activists and members of the public alike urge authorities to ensure that such criminal acts do not go unpunished.
And that victims receive the protection and support they deserve.
Wahalaupdate’s Take: Protecting the Vulnerable from Within
As this story continues to unfold, Wahalaupdate calls on Nigerians to hold law enforcement accountable and demand transparency.
The incident stresses the importance of safeguarding children and vulnerable groups, even from those sworn to protect them.
Let this be a wake-up call to tackle entrenched abuses, with justice and empathy leading the way.
