Burkina Faso: traditional healer convicted of beating a follower
By Ahmad Hadizat Omayoza, Mamos Nigeria
After a trial in which she was accused of being complicit in the beating of a follower, a well-known healer was given a sentence by a court in Burkina Faso.
Adja, whose official name is Amsetou Nikiema, has attracted thousands of followers to events where she is said to cure people who get sick or are thought to be possessed or cursed by bad luck. After a trial in which she was found guilty of complicity in the beating of a follower, a well-known healer in Burkina Faso was given a three-year suspended sentence by a court.
Adja, whose official name is Amsetou Nikiema, has attracted thousands of followers to groups where she is said to cure those who get sick or are thought to be cursed or possessed.
The 20-year-old was found guilty of complicity in bodily harm late Wednesday night after a day-long trial in the capital, Ouagadougou.
She received a three-year suspended sentence and a one million CFA franc ($1,600) suspended fine.
The prosecution had asked for a three million franc fine and a two-year sentence with a one-year suspension.
In July, a video surfaced on social media showing men claiming to be Adja associates torturing a middle-aged man near Ouagadougou.
She was captured however figured out how to escape with the assistance of fighters.
Equipped soldiers encompassed the court where she and different litigants were anticipating move to preventive detainment and requested she be given over to them, examiner Laurent Poda said.
Instead of surrendering to a civilian jail, she later turned herself in to a military prison in Ouagadougou for what she called “safety reasons.” She was then detained there.
Adja apologized in court for the abuse, which she claimed had been done without her knowledge.
She stated, “All I can do is ask for forgiveness from the prosecutor and everyone — my mission is to care, not punish.”
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Eight partners were condemned to four years in prison and a fine of 500,000 francs on charges of unlawful confinement, real mischief and complicity in a wrongdoing. The two sentences were likewise suspended.
They all claimed that they had acted independently and that Adja had not given them any instructions.
Adama Barry, one of the defendants, stated, “When she heard that we had beaten up one of her patients, she got angry with us and fired us.”
Hamidou Kanazoe, the alleged victim, declined to join the case as a civil plaintiff, claiming that an outside settlement had been reached.
Adja came to public unmistakable quality a long time back when word spread that the young lady had completed wonder healings.
Addressing an AFP columnist at one of her social events in Spring, she said she was spooky by dreams during her young life in rustic Burkina, and endured remorselessness subsequently.
She claimed that she used both a spiritual guide and traditional medicine to treat patients.
The reporter stated that while donations and other offerings were discreetly encouraged, she did not charge for her services at the gathering.
Officially, only 9% of the people in Burkina Faso claim to be animists.
However, this number is widely regarded as underestimating. The country’s Muslim majority and Christians frequently share deep traditional beliefs, and the authorities are tolerant of alleged healers.
