Teenage girl locked up in a cage for 2 in Bayelsa freed.

A young girl in Bayelsa, who is said to have been locked behind wooden
bars by her parents, has been freed.

The girl is claimed to have been locked in the wooden cage for more
than 2 years after being accused of witchcraft by her family.

The teenage victim, identified as Blessing Olokumo, was said to have
been suffering from a strange illness which made her lose control of
her bowels.

Vanguard reports:

According to Tonyon Ebitei Robert, the acting President of the
foundation which rescued her, the strange illness led to the isolation
of the girl by her parents due to her alleged constant incidence of
defecation and soiling of the house.

Father of the girl, who is also a twin, allegedly built the cage and
locked up the girl to keep her away from the main house.

'She was kept like a rabbit. She was given food when it is available
and was allowed to sleep in her vomit, faeces and urine. She lost
weight and could have died,' Robert alleged.

According to her, the group known for its campaign against
maltreatment of twin child in the state, was contacted by concerned
indigenes of Okolobiri community where the Olokumo family resides.

The first attempt by members of the group to reach the caged child was
allegedly rebuffed by the father but their next trip was fruitful as
he handed the child to them.

The rescued child was reportedly taken to the teaching hospital for
proper medical treatment.

Though the father of the girl could not be reached for comment as he
was said to have absconded from home, some indigenes of the community
condemned the act, describing it as callous and wicked.
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