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From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
A 34-year-old mother of six from Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State has allegedly recounted how she was raped, brutally tortured by a mob and abandoned in a forest for three days before she was eventually banished from her community.
The shocking account was made public, yesterday, by the Women’s Aid Collective (WACOL), which said it received the woman’s ordeal and other evidence while calling for justice for the survivor.
WACOL said the woman had endured repeated physical abuse from her husband, who allegedly assaulted both her and her mother over a prolonged period. The organisation said the woman eventually rented another apartment in an effort to escape the abuse, but her husband tracked her down.
“On the night of July 17, he brutally attacked her and chased her out of her new home,” WACOL said.
The rights group stated that the woman fled to her mother’s house, but her husband allegedly pursued her and threatened to kill her if she did not return to his house.
“Out of options and fearing for her life, she sought refuge with a male customer, a palm kernel trader,” the organisation said.
WACOL said because the trader was married, he took the woman to a friend’s house where she could stay temporarily. However, the organisation alleged that the friend conspired with another resident to rape the woman before informing her husband where she was hiding. The group said the woman’s husband later stormed the house with a mob.
“The husband publicly raped the survivor while members of the mob restrained the trader who had tried to help her,” the organisation alleged.
It further claimed that after taking all the money the woman had on her, the husband allegedly bought drinks for youths, men, and women in the community and incited them to attack both victims. The organisation further disclosed that the mob stripped the woman and the trader naked, spat on them, and beat them mercilessly.
“Female members of the mob used broken bottles to violently shave the survivor’s hair, while others inflicted severe cutlass wounds all over their bodies,” WACOL stated.
The organisation further alleged that the attackers dragged the severely injured woman into what it described as an “evil forest” and abandoned her there to die.
“After three days in the forest, the survivor, on the brink of death, managed to crawl to the main road where Good Samaritans found her, contacted her sister, and ensured her rescue,” the statement said.
WACOL disclosed that the woman is currently receiving medical treatment while in hiding.
The organisation also alleged that after the incident, the community’s traditional ruler and the President General banished the survivor and her family because they reported the matter to the police.
“To compound this atrocity, the Traditional Ruler (Igwe) and the President General (PG) of the community have banished the victim and her family… simply because they reported the perpetrators to the police,” the organisation said.
“This victim-blaming and unconstitutional banishment is a gross abuse of power,” the organisation added.
WACOL expressed concern over the whereabouts of the palm kernel trader, who was allegedly tortured alongside the woman.
While commending the Enugu State Police Command for making arrests, the organisation urged the Commissioner of Police to ensure that all fleeing suspects are apprehended.
