Before You Consult A Traditional Healer For Help, Read This Heart-wrenching Story As Narrated By The Victim’s Mum

High Chief Bunmi Popoola, a traditional healer and one of the Kingmakers of Odo-Owa community in Oke-Ero Local Government Area of Kwara State, has been accused by one Mrs. Florence Bamidele of raping her 27-year-old daughter, Joke, many times under the guise of curing her of an ailment.

One might have concluded that it was a case of just rape but when Bamidele delved into the details of what transpired and how her daughter died, it sounded like a movie from Nollywood.

Punch reports….

Joke, an Agricultural Science graduate of the Kwara State College of Education, Lafiagi, in her 20s, was afflicted with a strange disease in 2014 which defied all medical diagnosis.

Bamidele said her daughter was treated by doctors in many hospitals within and outside of the state, but the ailment could not be cured.

”Despite medical treatment, her health condition deteriorated. Popoola, who is my cousin, then said he could handle the case and get her cured. Five days after he admitted Joke into his house, he told us he would need to perform rituals that would solve her health problem. He collected N50,000, one bag of rice, three big fowls,” Bamidele said.

Months later, the backache and stomach pains Joke was experiencing before then disappeared. After about five months, her condition became stable and she returned home. She even reopened her foodstuff business in Omu-Aran.

Bamidele said Joke later became sick again and  also complained of severe pain in her private part but refused to go back to Popoola for treatment, adding that she received a phone call from Popoola that Joke had to perform one last ritual for a permanent cure for her illness and said there was a dire consequence for refusing to do it.

Bamidele tried her best to persuade Joke to go back to Popoola to conclude her treatment but she still refused flatly.

”When my daughter’s condition became life threatening, we consulted another herbalist in Egbe, Kogi State who told us Popoola was the source of my daughter’s problem. He told us that Popoola was a powerful herbalist and instantly washed his hands off her matter.

”When Joke was about to reveal what transpired between her and Popoola, she became dumb. We then gave her a pen and paper to write what was wrong with her but her right hand became paralysed.

”We later took her to a pastor for a prayer session. Then she was able to explain everything that happened to her in the house of Popoola. She said the herbalist had warned her that she would die if she ever told anyone about the sexual harassment,” she explained.

Joke later died.

It was gathered that before Joke died, her mother had reported the case to the king of Odo-Owa community, Joshua Adimula.

When he was contacted, the monarch said that Popoola had admitted to the crime while being interrogated in his palace.

He said, ”Some weeks ago, Gbemisola Bamidele came to me that the victim was about to reveal what Popoola, one my chiefs did to her, but that she suddenly became dumb.

”I gave her water which my fore-father used and I also use for morning prayers and she talked again. She narrated how the chief slept with her when she was in his custody receiving treatment.”

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Oba Adimula said he summoned Popoola and instructed him to cure the deceased.

According to the king, the victim also repeated the allegations in the presence of Popoola, but the high chief did not deny it. The matter was later reported to the Divisional Police Officer in Oke-Ero.

The traditional ruler said he later suspended Popoola from the Owa Olota-in-council as this was not the first time he allegedly engaged in gross misconduct.

Confirming the case, the Police Public Relations Officer, Kwara State Command, Mr. Ajayi Okasanmi, said he had been informed of the allegation against Popoola of having sexual relationship with Joke, who came to him for treatment.

He stated that the police was investigating the matter.

”I was told that the herbalist had been having an affair with the lady. But after sometime, the woman failed to continue with the relationship and she died.

We are still investigating the case to know if it is one that can be handled by police as the law does not believe in juju. But we are still investigating,” he said.

Photo credit: Punch