ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The South-East Human Rights Situation Room has strongly condemned the dehumanizing abuse, and stripping naked of a poor widow by the youths of Agunese Affam-Mmaku Autonomous Community in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State.
According to a statement signed and issued on Saturday by Blessing Igwe on behalf of the Rights group, the incident occurred on Thursday 28 October 2022.
Voiceofnaija.ng gathered that the victim is currently hospitalized, as a result of the injuries caused by the physical, and emotional torture received from the angry youths of the community.
The victim received jungle justice for merely collecting snails from a sacred site which caused the boys and men in that village to humiliate her, as other women watched and cheered them on.
This act was further recorded by the perpetrators, and the video was shared on the internet.
The group called on the traditional ruler and the cabinet members of the Agunese Afam-Mmaku Autonomous community, to swing into action, immediately.
The statement read: “In the trending video also shared in the South-East Human Rights Situation Room by a member of the forum, the woman was seen beaten to a stupor, stripped naked, and paraded in the community like a common thief. This barbaric act is dehumanizing, satanic, and a violation of the human rights of this poor widow.
“The fact that a community in this 21st century can commit this heinous crime against their daughter, and wife all in the name of culture speaks volumes of their level of backwardness. Interestingly, this incident is not the first time that such flagrant desecration of women was perpetuated in this same community.
“The SE Human Rights Situation Room reiterates that any cultural practice that is anti-human, is in conflict with the constitution of the Federation Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law of Enugu State 2019, and the Widowhood Law of Enugu, and also repugnant to natural justice.
“It is disheartening and condemnable that despite high-level advocacy interventions carried out by CSOs in the county to create a gender-friendly environment where women and girls feel safe just like their male counterparts, women in Nigeria, especially in the South-East geopolitical zones have continued to suffer huge physical, emotional, and psychological abuses, due to harmful cultural practices. Enough is enough!
“The traditional ruler and the cabinet members of the Agunese 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.
“We, also appeal to the concerned authorities, especially the Awgu Local chairman, as well as the State government to do everything within the ambit of the law to ensure that the perpetrators of these monstrous act prosecuted.”
Blessing Igwe of the WomenAid Collective (WACOL), added that: “Ndigbo should as a matter of critical urgency speak out in unionism in condemnation of harmful cultural norms, that bring shame to the Igbo race, and perpetually project them in bad light before the comity of nations.”
The Human Rights group called on communities and law enforcement agencies to continue to take proactive actions to protect the poor, and the vulnerable members of our society such as the woman in the viral video.
Also, the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists Enugu (NAWOJ), frowned with dismay on the treatment given to the woman and demands immediate arrest of the perpetrators.
The Chairperson in the State, Comrade Ngozi Ngene, condemned the act that the victim was paraded naked by some members because she picked snails from sacred place.
Ngene stressed also that violence against women is both a grave violation of their human rights and a threat to human security.
She called on all concerned citizens and relevant authorities across Mmaku, to find the culprit, take responsibility and more decisive action to make the societies safe for women.
“I believe this is no longer the time for complacency or delays, our society expects effective measures to prevent and stop violence against women for the current generation and all those who come after us.
“Injury to one is an injury to all. There can never be justification against violence of any kind,” she concluded.