Enugu State Government through the Ministry Of Gender Affairs has organised a World Press Conference To Address The Emotional and Psychological Abuse on Awgu woman whom the youths of Agunese Affam-Mmaku Autonomous Community stripped naked, beaten and paraded around the community for picking snails in a sacred place, condemning the act publicly and reassuring the general public of government's commitment in protecting human rights of it's citizens.
Amb Mrs Amaka Nweke JP. while responding to the news correspondents also briefly narrated her involvement in the issue. "I was heart-broken when I heard about such an abuse on a fellow woman and when I eventually saw the video, I broke into tears seeing young persons strip their mother naked, knowing she is old enough to be their mother, they didn't stop there as they went futher to whip her mercilessly and tied her waist with palm-front. I reached out to the council Chairman, Hon. Pedro Okwudili Nwankwo on phone immediately and forwarded the video to him, being a good man that he is, he was pained, he promised to pursue the case. Our organisation being in fore front of human rights activistivism, we went further to organise our fellow sister organisations who joined forces to make bold statement condemning the act and reaching to the State government to take immediate action. I personally contacted and met with Igwe of the autonomous community where the inhumane act took place, HRM Igwe Nevobasi who condemned the act and promised to follow up on the case too. The perpetrators have been arrested, the woman is receiving treatment as we speak and we are following up to make sure that they are prosecuted" she narrated.
The Commissioner for Gender Affairs Enugu State, Hon. Mrs Peace Nnaji in her statement on behalf of the state Government condemned the act. Her statement read in part; "even if the woman picked a sacred snail, the beating, undressing and parading her around the entire village is highly condemnable, there are ways to manage such cases rather than taking laws into one's hand. The state government that entrusted leadership into the hands of persons such as the traditional rulers who interface in matters of traditions knows they are competent to precide over such matters. These act is only obtainable in a primitive and lawless society not in the modern world" she reassured the civil society organisations that the actors will be brought to book.
The Chairman of Awgu Local Government of Area, Rt. Hon. Pedro Okwudili Nwankwo in the same vein, expressed his displeasure while narrating how he was informed of the abominable act carried out by some youths of Agunese Affam-Mmaku Community. Hon. Pedro explained that he reached out to the Igwe of the Community, HRM Igwe Nevobasi who confirmed the video saying it was a shameful thing in his kingdom. He reassured the general public that the matter is with the police already and they won't go unpunished.
Recall that Hon. Pedro earlier made a press statement condemning the act immediately he confirmed the news, a statement reported by FountainCare Reporters on the 2nd November. It read in part; "Hon. Pedro Okwudili Nwankwo, came out to publicly express his displeasure on the act, citing that it's against the woman's Rights To Dignity Of Human Persons and Rights To Personal Liberty as enshrined in the Chapter 4. Section 34 and 35 of 1999 constitution as amended.For Hon. Nwankwo, "every Nigerian has the rights to be valued and respected for their own sake and be treated with morality and ethics, not to be subjected to torture, inhuman or degrading treatment". He promised to continue to live up to his mandate which is greatly tied to protecting the rights and safety of individuals in his council.
While educating the general public on matters relating to tradition and Christianity, His Royal Majesty Nevobasi of Agunnese Mmaku Kingdom condemned the act, highlighting on how such cases are handled rather than the youths employing jungle justice by parading the woman totally unclad. Igwe Ogilishi Igbo said "there still exist some rivers that fishing is forbidden by tradition and some forests that hunting snails or such edible animals are considered a sacrilege, but there are procedures through which offenders are being penalised or made to appease the gods in that aspect. The rituals to appease the gods are usually done by the person's husband or the person's elders as the case may be, but not by beating and parading someone naked. The youths took the laws into their hands in this case. Tradition and Christianity coexist, I am a Catholic and at the same time the Traditional ruler of my community, Christianity did not come to destroy traditions rather to refine it" Igwe Nevobasi expressed his disdain over the punishment and ill-treatment metted out on the woman by the youths of his community, while condemning it in totality.
Amb. Mrs Amaka Nweke JP
Country Director
Global Society For Anti-Corruption
Global President
Anambra Women General Assembly
Executive Director
Amaka Nweke Foundation ANF
Ogene Romanus
FountainCare Reporters
