FIDA Condemns Alleged Brutalization Of Woman By Police Officer In Rivers
3 min readEdith CHUKU
Following the brutalization of one Jane Amos, allegedly by an Inspector of Police, Mr. Ezekah Akbelu, in Rivers State, legal and rights groups, women organizations, have continued to intensify their voice in the call for a thorough investigation, with a view to dispensing justice to the parties involved in the matter.
Groups such as the International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, Rivers State chapter, Centre For Basic Rights Protection and Accountability Campaign among others, took turns to urge the state police command to ensure that the accused, if found guilty, is made to face the full wrath of the law.
Speaking with TNN in an exclusive interview, the state chairperson of FIDA, Adata Bio-Briggs, who vehemently condemned the act, described it as very disheartening.
According to the chairperson of the non-governmental, non-profit, women lawyers’ organization, “that’s a very terrible thing to have happened, and I want to believe that the police officer has been arrested, and will face trial after his trial at the police, because this is an attempted murder, we will not call it assault, it is an attempted murder and we know the penalty for that.
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“It’s something that we condemn in all forms, from every area, and we believe that justice will be done. It is very disheartening that we have such high rate of violence, gender based violence against women, it’s something that we are not happy about, despite the provisions of the law, there are laws that have been provided to prevent this, it’s still very rampant, it’s on the rise and it’s on the increase, we don’t know why.”
Bio-Briggs added that, “We’ve embarked on several advocacy visits and sensitization, to let people know what the law says about such act, but we believe that with consistent sensitization it will reduce further.”
The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Grace Woyengikuro Iringe-koko assured members of the public in an interview with TNN that, “we are investigating it, so whatever it is we will get back to the public. He is being detained and police is investigating it.”
Akbelu, who resides at Rumuokwuota axis of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state, attached to a Royal Majesty from Ahoada East, was accused of throwing burning stove on Jane Amos who happens to be his neighbour.
It is still unconfirmed if he did commit such an inhuman act, but, the victim and her niece, whose body and breast were severely burnt are currently receiving treatment at the hospital.
The victim, Jane, narrated that the suspect had accused her of wrongly disposing water. According to her, while the argument was on, he allegedly slapped her, held her neck as she struggled with him, threw her pot of food she was cooking on the stove away, carried the burning stove and threw on her which resulted to the severe burns.
Her niece who was with her was not spared at all. While Jane incurred series of burns on her shoulders and back, her niece whose name was not given suffered burns in her both breasts and chest.
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Jane claimed the Police Inspector developed bad feelings for her after she turned down his alleged love advance, adding that he threatened to bleed her during the argument.
TNN gathered that the suspect, Akbelu who was arrested and detained at Rumuepereikom Police Division, at Kala, has been transferred to State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, SCIID.
Meanwhile, the victim and her niece were rushed to a hospital in Port Harcourt, where there are currently receiving treatment.