GROUP MOVES IN DEFENCE OF WIDOW STRIPPED NAKED FOR PICKING SNAILS IN ENUGU
The South-East Human Rights
Situation Room (SEHRSR) has decried the alleged dehumanizing abuse and
stripping naked of a widow in Awgu community, Enugu State for picking snails in
a ‘sacred land’.
The group comprising a coalition
of Non Governmental Organizations made its feelings known in a statement issued
in Enugu on Saturday.
The statement signed by the convener of SEHRSR, Prof. Joy
Ezeilo, said the incident took place at Agulese Affam-Mmaku Autonomous
Community in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State on Oct. 28.
She said: “The information
available to us revealed that the victim received jungle justice for merely
collecting snails from a sacred site.
“This caused the boys and men in that village to subject
her to this humiliation, while the women watched and urged them on.
“The vile act was further recorded and the video was
shared on the internet. “The trending video showed that the woman was seen
beaten, stripped naked, and paraded in the community like a common thief,”
Ezeilo described the act as “barbaric, dehumanizing, satanic, and a violation
of the human rights of this poor widow”.
The convener added that the
victim was currently hospitalized as a result of the injuries caused by the
physical and emotional torture she received from the errant youths of the
community. She regretted that, “a community in this 21st century can commit
this heinous crime on their daughter, and wife all in the name of culture, speaks
volumes of their level of backwardness”.
Ezeilo noted that this is not the first time that such
flagrant desecration of women is perpetuated in the same community.
“We have noted that in recent times, there has been a
spike in such nauseating acts of man inhumanity to women as recorded in our
communities, especially in Igbo land. There is a need for urgent action to be
taken by the stakeholders toward stemming the tide.
“It is disheartening and
condemnable that in spite of the high-level advocacy interventions carried out
by CSOs in the country to create a gender-friendly environment where women and
girls feel safe just like their male counterparts. “Enough is enough. The
traditional ruler and the cabinet members of the Agulese Afam-Mmaku Autonomous
community should take urgent steps to check the excesses of their subjects, so
as to prevent a repeat of such injustices against women.
“Igbo leaders should as a
matter of critical urgency speak out in unison in condemnation of harmful
cultural norms that bring shame to the Igbo race, and perpetually project them
in bad light before the community of nations.
“It is our earnest desire as a group that communities and
law enforcement agencies continue to raise the accountability stakes and
proactive actions to protect the poor, and the vulnerable members of our
society such as the woman in the viral video.
“We want to sincerely commend the Divisional Police
Officer (DPO), other officers, and men of the Awgu Divisional Police for their
swift action that led to the arrest of seven perpetrators,” SEHRSR convener
said. While calling for their prompt prosecution under the extant laws of the
land, Ezeilo commended the resident of the community, for his effort in
ensuring that the victim had access to medical treatment and for reporting the
matter to the police.
She also appealed to the concerned authorities especially
the Awgu Local Government chairman, as well as the state government to do
everything within the ambit of the law to ensure that the perpetrators of these
monstrous acts are prosecuted.
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