Umunze Women In Orumba South LG. Protest Rape, Ritual Murder Of 72-year-old Woman
Women in Umunze Community, Orumba South LGA, on Tuesday, took to the streets to protest the murder of a 72-year-old woman, Mrs Charity Okoli, by three suspected ritualists alleged to be indigenes of Abakaliki in Ebony State.
Recall that last week, the late Charity Okoli had her breasts, finger, tongue and private part harvested while alive, by three suspected ritualists who also raped her at her home.
However, luck ran out of one of them who, under the influence of hard drugs, could not escape from the security operatives but hid under the woman’s bed and was caught.
Police said the suspect has confessed to the crime, and also disclosed that they are a five-man gang who resides in the neighbouring Ezira community, though the other four are still at large.
The protesting women numbering about 3,000 carried placards and green leaves, demanding mass exit of all Abakiliki Indigenes from Umunze because of the atrocious they are coming and now, the condemnable rape, killing and harvesting of the victim’s body parts.
According to the women, “T victim was raped and murdered two weeks ago after the suspect harvested her private part, tongue and two nipples of her breasts for money making rituals”.
The took their protest to the Umunze Police Area Command headquarters, the palace of His Royal Highness, Igwe Promise N. Eze and the Transition Committee Chairman of the local government, Hon. Neville Uchendu, as well as other relevant bodies.
They expressed bitterness over the unbearable and hostile activities of Abakiliki Indigenes in the area who, according to them, allegedly indulge in all sorts of crimes, including charging outrageous bills for manual labour, rape of young girls and other heinous crimes.
The women further called on the authorities to wade into the dangerous and unbecoming attitude of their guests as they have outstayed their usefulness and must, therefore, leave for peace to return to the area.
Spokesperson and President of the Women in the area, Mrs Bridget Enekwechi said, “The entire Umunze resolved to come together today for a peaceful protest because Abakiliki people resident in our community raped one of us in Ubaha village and cut off her tongue, one of her fingers, two nipples of her breasts and her private part. So, that’s why we are here to complain to the Transition Committee Chairman of the local government area so he can take our report to Awka the state capital for necessary action.”
She added, “We are demanding justice and that the suspects should face the full weight of the law because women are not supposed to face such torture and suffering in the hands of heartless criminal elements,
The President General of the Umunze Progressives Union, Chief Hippolite Uchechukwu Olua who addressed the women commended them, and urged them to go about their protest in peace as their complaints would be given prompt attention by the police and other relevant authorities.
He told Journalists, “Our relationship with the Abakiliki people in Umunze is becoming a very bad one. It’s not favouring us anymore because the way and manner they commit crimes in Umunze that we have consoled for a while, is too much.”
“Of recent our wife, Mrs Charity Okolie was butchered while alive by Abakiliki men in a gruesome way but we said no as a community; while we have accommodated these people as our brothers from Abakiliki, they are killing our people, they are harassing our women and raping them in their farmlands.”
“They are increasing labour costs at will; they wake up every morning and change the cost of labour at their dictates but we said no. So, our women are aggrieved, they are not happy and that’s why they are protesting.”
Traditional Ruler of Umunze community, Igwe Promise Eze, on his part, lamented that his subjects have suffered so much in the hands of the Abakaliki people who came to the town to do farm work and other jobs.
He noted that the victim died due to loss of blood which made her to be unconscious after she was rushed to the hospital in Amawbia where she later died, a development that angered everybody.
The monarch however urged the people of the area to remain calm as police and leaders of the community are working round the clock to ensure that justice is done at the end of the day.
“I have told the DPO who’s closest to us here that the suspect must be charged to court for murder and he has assured me that the matter would not be swept under the carpet. I have instructed the youths to exercise restraint while awaiting the outcome of the case, the Monarch added.
