Community members raise alarm over kidnap, killing of albinos
By MEDINAT KANABE
Residents of Enugwu Ukwu community in Anambra State have raised alarm over the kidnapping and killing of some community members who are albinos.
While a large number of the residents say that albinos are being hunted for ritual purposes, others believe that some people are scared that albinos may take over the community soon.
Those who spoke to The Nation recently expressed fear that no albino will return to the community if nothing is done as a large number of them have fled to different parts of the country.
Speaking during an interview, a community member, Chinedu Idoko said although the albinos are discriminated upon, an event which occurred last month left everyone in a state of shock.
Explaining, she said “Unknown gun men entered the community last month in search of albinos. At first we thought that there was an activity going on or they escorted people who came to give Covid-19 vaccines but they started asking for albinos and the albinos started to run away. We heard that they use them for rituals.”
Asked what the government has done since then she said nothing has been done on the part of the government. “They are just telling them to calm down that nothing will happen to them but many of them have fled. They said that when government is serious that they will come back to the community. Right now as I speak, it is difficult to get albino is our community because all of them are on the run. When I heard about it I also ran away because I thought they came for everybody.”
Another community member, Ezugo Akaigwe who is an albino said that they have been neglected. “People see us as cursed people who are meant to be used for rituals and sacrifices alone. Some of them say we come from another planet and that we are some sort of evil spirit that’s why many people don’t want to associate with us in the community.”
Asked to tell what kinds of neglect he has faced as an albino, he said it is rare to see any employer engage them “that’s why I lost a lot of jobs including my dream job just because I am albino. I have also lost a lot of opportunities because of this. I once went for a job interview in a bank and I passed all the tests; I went there with my friends who also went through with the interview. Some of them were employed but I wasn’t and when I asked they said they would call me but they never did.”
Asked if he has had any encounter with ritualists he said not at all but he tries to secure himself. “I have also been told to join the albino foundation but I have not yet joined.”
Emmanuel Otiji another resident said he has a friend who is an albino and has suffered a lot because of his skin colour. “For example, in February when some armed men who help ritualists to get human and body parts came to the village he almost fell victim. He managed to escape and has fled our community just to stay alive.
“Do you know that herbalists prescribe albinos to ritualists and that’s why these days they don’t move alone but in convoy,” he added.
For Obiora who also lives in the community, apart the kidnapping, people of other colours do not respect them or see them as worth any attention. “It is so bad that people don’t want to enter into the same vehicle with them or allow them take up any viable position.
“Most people believe that they are an outcast and so should be kept at bay. They are planning now to have an albino association so that they can be recognized in the community and outside the state as a whole.”
Speaking about the last month’s event, he said they tried to kidnap some of them and this has made them flee the community. “Government has not done anything that is why they have run away to secure their lives,” he noted.
Chidinma Osita, a mother and resident of Oba-agu in Enugwu Ukwu who witnessed the February 10 event said when they first came they thought they were Fulani herdsmen who wanted to attack the community so everyone ran for safety but later discovered that they were in fact looking for albinos to take away.
She noted that an albino by name Chukwuma Omasili was kidnapped and hasn’t been found yet as she noted that people in the village now live in fear. “The vigilante group has upgraded their security but for now there are no albinos in the community and even those who are very fair in complexion have started to hide as well.
“We have alerted the government but before they do anything we are relying on the vigilante group,” she said.
On his part, Ikemefuna Akpalankwu a son of Enugwu-Ukwu who lives in Port-Harcourt now said all what happened was because of the myopic reasoning of a group of people.
“I don’t know why some people have a myopic way of thinking. Albinos are humans even though they don’t have a black skin like us.”
He said some people are jealous of albonos because of their high intelligence. “I know a lot of them and I have observed that they are very intelligent people so if you ask me I will say people are jealous of them. Sometimes in the village when a meeting is holding and an albino is allowed to speak, they speak very intelligently and sensible.
“I just feel that people are afraid that albinos will soon take over the community and they have started to hunt them.”
Asked what the community is doing to safeguard albinos, he said last month when they kidnapped one albino, we reported to our Igwe whom we call Igwe-Ekpe and he took it up but there is still tension in the community because an albino was killed as well and as we speak he is still in the mortuary.
On his part, Augustine Akaigwe, the Village Chief said albinos are kidnapped for ritual purpose which is a very common thing in Igbo land. “In fact one of our brothers was kidnapped again in Ugwuani where he was working. He worked at a place where we go to break stones. We have been going around looking for the last boy that was taken away from the community but we have not been able to find him.”
He said that they have reported to the police and other security agencies as well.
