A34-year-old mother of six has allegedly been banished from Nenwe community in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State after surviving alleged domestic violence, gang rape, public torture and an attempted murder that left her abandoned in an “evil forest.”
The survivor’s identity has been withheld for her safety and protection.
According to a report by SaharaReporters, community sources on Tuesday alleged that the woman and her family were excommunicated on the orders of the community’s traditional ruler (Igwe) and President General (PG) after she reported the alleged crimes to law enforcement authorities.
“The Igwe and the President General Aninri community are trying to cover up the matter to protect their image.
“They went as far as issuing a decree banishing the woman and her family from the community just because they dared to involve the police. It is a complete abuse of traditional authority,” a community source said.
The alleged ordeal reportedly began after the survivor moved into a separate apartment to escape what sources described as persistent and life-threatening domestic abuse by her husband, who allegedly assaulted both her and her mother.
“Her husband tracked her down to her new place on the night of July 17, severely beat her, and chased her out.
“When she ran to her mother’s house, he followed her there, threatening that he would kill her if she stayed. She had no choice but to seek help from a palm kernel trader who was her customer,” narrated another resident familiar with the matter.
Sources alleged that because the trader was married, he took the woman to a friend’s house for temporary shelter. However, the friend allegedly connived with another resident to lock up the trader and assault the woman.
The alleged attacker was said to have locked both victims inside the house before informing the woman’s husband.
“The husband stormed the building with a wild mob, broke down the door, and publicly raped his own wife while the mob held down the trader,” a source said.
“After that, the husband stole all the money on her, bought local gin and drinks for the youths, men, and women present, and incited them to torture both of them.”
The source alleged that the mob stripped the victims, assaulted them, shaved the woman’s head with broken bottles and inflicted injuries on their bodies before dragging her to an “evil forest” and abandoning her.
“She spent three days in that forest on the verge of death,” another source said.
“It was by a miracle that she managed to crawl to the main road, where Good Samaritans found her, contacted her sister, and rushed her for help.”
The whereabouts of the male trader who reportedly attempted to assist her remain unknown, with residents expressing fears that he may have been killed during the attack.
Reacting to the incident, the Women’s Aid Collective (WACOL) condemned the alleged abuse, describing it as a violation of human dignity and the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law of Enugu State.
In a statement signed by its Senior Communications Officer, Ezugwu Bethel, WACOL said the survivor was receiving medical treatment at a police clinic while staying away from public attention due to fears for her safety.
“The Women’s Aid Collective has received with profound shock, outrage, and deep sorrow the harrowing reports of severe domestic violence, multiple rapes, mob torture, attempted murder, and the subsequent banishment of a 34-year-old mother of six in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State,” the organisation said.
“WACOL condemns these barbaric acts in the strongest possible terms.”
The organisation also accused the community leadership of victimising the survivor for reporting the alleged crimes.
“To compound this atrocity, the Traditional Ruler (Igwe) and the President General (PG) of the community have banished the victim and her family, excommunicating them simply because they reported the perpetrators to the police. This victim-blaming and unconstitutional banishment is a gross abuse of power,” WACOL stated.
WACOL said it was concerned by reports that some community leaders initially attempted to protect the suspects.
“We are deeply concerned by reports that the community’s Igwe initially used his influence to bail out the suspects before they were rightfully rearrested,” the group said.
The rights organisation called on the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, to ensure the arrest and prosecution of all fleeing suspects, alleged perpetrators and members of the mob.
It also demanded an immediate search-and-rescue operation for the missing trader, protection for the survivor and her family, and sanctions against any traditional leaders found to have obstructed justice.
