The heartbreaking story of Joy, a 7-year-old girl brutally murdered in 2020, continues to haunt residents of her community in Edo State, five years after the tragic incident.
According to an eyewitness who lived in the same neighborhood, the tragedy began on the evening of October 31, 2020, around 7:00 p.m., when Joy was seen happily playing with her friends in front of a row of shops. Her laughter filled the air as she ran around, completely unaware that it would be the last time anyone would see her alive.
Later that night, at about 9:00 p.m., Joy’s mother returned to the area in distress, asking if anyone had seen her daughter. Panic set in when no one could account for Joy’s whereabouts. Neighbours joined in the search, combing every corner of the area, calling out her name, but there was no response.
One of the children who had been playing with Joy finally revealed that a young man had approached them and signaled to Joy, asking her to come and collect something. She ran towards him—and was never seen again.
The entire community stayed up through the night searching, but Joy did not return home.
Days later, the search ended in tragedy when Joy’s lifeless body was discovered along a lonely farm path among plantain trees. Her remains showed signs of ritual mutilation, sparking outrage and grief across the community.
A suspect was later arrested after his wife reportedly confessed that he had made a suspicious phone call the night Joy disappeared, telling someone he was about to “deliver the goat.” The community believed the phrase “the goat” was a code word for Joy.
Despite the widespread outcry and calls for justice, no concrete outcome has been made public. The suspect reportedly vanished from public view, and there have been no official updates or convictions since the horrific event.
Residents say the memory of Joy’s death still lingers — a reminder of the rising cases of ritual-related killings and the need for stronger protection for children.
“If she were alive today, Joy would have been 12 years old, probably in JSS 2,” one neighbour said tearfully. “We may never know what really happened, but we pray that everyone responsible for her death never goes unpunished.”
While the community continues to mourn, they also urge parents to remain vigilant and protect their children from strangers.
May Joy’s soul continue to rest in peace.
No comments:
Post a Comment