ANGELA NKWO-AKPOLU writes about the death of 21-year-old Wendy Achumba, a nursing student killed for rejecting sexual advances. This incident has sparked outrage and renewed concerns over violence against young women.
The tragic death of 21-year-old Wendy Achumba, a nursing student, has sparked outrage and renewed concerns over violence against women.
For late Miss Wendy Achumba of Our Lady Nursing School, Umulogho, in the Obowo local government area of Imo State, her life was cut short abruptly, even before it blossomed.
Umuadara is one of the five villages that make up Umulogho Autonomous Community, Obowo Local Government Area of Imo State.
Her dream of practising as a Nurse and then seeking greener pastures abroad never materialised.
Allegedly raped and killed last week by her admirers, her death has left family, friends and colleagues devastated, while raising fresh questions about safety, respect for women and the consequences of unchecked misconduct.
Her death has ignited a wave of protests among women and girls in Umulogho against the growing violence targeted at women and girls.
Already, the community led by the traditional ruler of Umuadara Umulogho, Eze Patrick Uwalaka, and the people have held a solemn assembly to apologise to her spirit, appeal to God to exempt them from any repercussions as they had no hands in the dastardly killing.
The community collectively laid curses on the suspects and assured students and residents that their community is safe and home to all.
Wendy had just begun her post-basic training to become a certified midwife. Every time she walked to her school for nursing classes, a 34-year-old Vulcaniser named Onyema Okonkwo tried to get her attention.
At 21, Wendy didn’t want a boyfriend without a good-paying job, even as she toyed with the idea of marriage. She won’t deal with someone without a good-paying job as a boyfriend.
A young man, (name witheld) threw out lucid jokes at her, and she decided to ignore him, which prompted the vulcaniser to consider how to deal with her.
Years ago, the young man was allegedly caught for trying to rape a teenage girl. It took the quick intervention of the locals around to stop him. Of course, he denied it to the heavens and swore with his life. After several appeals and assurances that it would not repeat, he was let off the hook. He was said to have paid the fine to the Youth Association and was allowed to remain in the community.
The suspect’s uncle, based abroad, was said to have permitted him to keep his vulcanising tools in his compound after each day’s work. It was to ensure a relative would occasionally look into the compound to keep away invaders and also provide the three female Nursing-tenants with some assurance if they needed immediate support to fix minor issues, like burnt-out electricity sockets and similar things tenants with some assurance if they needed immediate support to fix minor issues like burnt-out electricity sockets and stuff. Though in reality, he never did any maintenance jobs.
Wendy had returned from the day’s lectures exhausted. As would other young people like her, she ate her food and fiddled with her phone on what one could call social media ward rounds.
She was the only occupant in the compound because her co-tenants were currently undergoing their hands-on training in hospitals to improve their learning.
That night, Wendy locked the gate and her door as she normally would. She was asleep when she heard her door forced open.
The young man probably threatened her that if she screamed, she would be killed.
Almost immediately, the suspect with a friend followed and entered her room, both brandishing weapons. They ordered her to allow them to sleep with her, and that was where the scuffle started, but they overpowered her; she was just 21 with no real experience of street fighting.
By daybreak, the Vulcaniser didn’t show up to carry his vulcanising tools, even though he had resumed quite early, but nobody suspected anything.
