Obeah woman, three others arrested

Jun 19, 2009 News

…chant, sing sonkeys at police station

Police on the East Coast of Demerara have arrested four women in connection with a spiritual ritual that went horribly wrong and resulted in a Buxton man suffering severe burns about his lower body.
Two of the women, the injured man’s mother and his sister have been detained since Wednesday, while the other two, a member of the City Constabulary, who is said to be the ‘obeah woman’ were held yesterday.
According to initial reports, since the death of a close relative, Lowe began acting strangely and family members were convinced that he was possessed by demons.
They invited the woman to their home to perform the rights of casting out the demons.
But instead of casting out the demons, relatives watched as the man screamed in pain as the fire started by the ‘obeah woman’ tore into his flesh.

According to the villager the professed obeah healer who lived in Buxton was seen with a huge bag and it is suspected that she has left the village as a result of the botched ritual.
The four women have however denied performing any ritual and are claiming that the man, Rickford Lowe, was burnt by accident.
But police do not believe their story since they have taken a statement from the injured man and they are expected to institute charges soon. According to a source, the man claimed that he was at his home watching television when his mother and sister came into the house accompanied by the ‘obeah woman’ and another female.

He said that to his surprise they started to pray over him with camphor and a bottle of Limacol.
The ‘obeah woman’ then lighted a candle and started to pour the Limacol and camphor on him after which she ignited the flammable liquids.
Lowe said that with fire all over his lower body he ran out of the house and soaked himself in a reservoir of water. He was then rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was admitted.
Kaieteur News understands that the women constantly sang hymns as they were being questioned and increased the volume when they were being placed into the Beterverwagting Police Station lock-ups yesterday.
However police at the stations indicated that they are not intimidated.

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