The Women’s Aid Collective (WACOL) has reported that a 34-year-old mother of six from Enugu State’s Aninri Local Government Area was subjected to brutal gang rape and mob torture, then abandoned in a forest for three days. Following this ordeal, the victim was reportedly banished from her community, prompting calls for justice.

WACOL has confirmed it received evidence of the assault and is actively seeking legal action against those involved, labeling the incident a severe human rights violation. The organization is providing support to the survivor while urging authorities to investigate the actions of the community members responsible.

The Women Aid Collective, WACOL, has alleged that the woman had suffered prolonged physical abuse at the hands of her husband, who reportedly assaulted both her and her mother over an extended period. In a bid to escape the violence, she was said to have rented a separate apartment, but her husband allegedly traced her to the new location.According to WACOL, on the night of July 17, he brutally attacked her and chased her out of the apartment, forcing her to flee to her mother’s house. The organisation further alleged that he pursued her there and threatened to kill her if she refused to return to his home.

“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.