By Enyinna Omoke ,Abakaliki
The Women’s Aid Collective (WACOL) has condemned the alleged torture, public rape, attempted murder, and banishment of a 34-year-old mother of six in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State, calling on police and state authorities to arrest all suspects and hold community leaders accountable.
In a press statement signed by its Senior Communication Officer, Ezugwu Bethel, and released in Enugu on Monday, WACOL described the July 17 incident as “barbaric” and a gross violation of human dignity and the Enugu State Violence Against Persons Prohibition [VAPP] Law 2019.
According to WACOL, the survivor had fled her home due to habitual domestic violence by her husband, who allegedly assaulted both her and her mother. After renting a separate apartment, the husband reportedly tracked her down, attacked her, and chased her to her mother’s house with threats to kill her.
Seeking safety, the woman took refuge with a male palm kernel trader. WACOL said the trader, who is married, took her to a friend’s house. There, the friend and another resident allegedly held down the trader, locked the doors, and raped the survivor. The perpetrators then locked the trader with the survivor inside and informed the husband of her location.
WACOL stated that the husband arrived with a mob and subjected both the survivor and the trader to hours of assault.
“The husband publicly raped the survivor while members of the mob restrained the trader who had tried to help her,” the statement read. “They stole all the money on her person, bought drinks for youths, and incited them to torture the palm kernel seller and the survivor.”
The group further alleged that the mob stripped both victims naked, spat on them, beat them, and that female members used broken bottles to shave the survivor’s hair while others inflicted cutlass wounds. The survivor was later dragged into a forest and abandoned.
She survived after three days and crawled to the main road where she was rescued by good Samaritans. She is currently receiving treatment at a police clinic and is in hiding.
WACOL also condemned what it called “community complicity.” It said the Traditional Ruler of the community, the Igwe, and the President General had banished the survivor and her family for reporting the case to police.
“To compound this atrocity, the Igwe and the PG have banished the victim and her family, excommunicating them simply because they reported the perpetrators to the police,” WACOL said. “This victim-blaming and unconstitutional banishment is a gross abuse of power.”
The group expressed concern that the whereabouts of the palm kernel trader remains unknown and alleged that the Igwe initially used his influence to bail out some suspects before they were rearrested. Police have confirmed some arrests, including the husband and some female accomplices.
WACOL said its legal and psychosocial teams have been activated to support the survivor. It demanded that:the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, ensure all fleeing suspects are apprehended and prosecuted, including the husband and members of the mob.
The also called on police to launch an immediate search and rescue operation for the missing male trader.
The further demanded that Enugu State Government and Ministry of Chieftaincy Matters call the Igwe and PG to order and hold them accountable for obstructing justice,and also provide dequate security for the survivor, her sister, and family.
“No woman should ever be subjected to this level of barbarism and humiliation,” WACOL said. “We call on all well-meaning Nigerians, human rights organizations, and the media to join us in demanding justice for this mother of six.
The Women’s Aid Collective is a Nigerian non-governmental organization working to promote human rights, eliminate gender-based violence, and ensure equitable access to justice for women and young people.
