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A human rights activist, Prince Wiro, has condemned the alleged rape and public humiliation of a female suspect accused of belonging to a “one chance” robbery syndicate that allegedly specialised in waylaying commuters in Rivers State, calling for a thorough investigation and the arrest of those involved in the assault.
Wiro’s call followed the circulation of a viral video showing the female suspect lying naked on the ground along the Rumuosi–Rumuekini axis of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, where she was allegedly sexually assaulted by a mob before the arrival of police officers.
The disturbing footage showed several men inserting their fingers into the woman’s private parts after stripping her naked and forcing her to spread her legs in public.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage and renewed concerns over mob justice and sexual violence.
Reacting to the incident, Wiro urged the Rivers State Police Command to immediately identify, arrest and prosecute those involved, insisting that their actions amounted to rape under the Rivers State Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law.
Wiro said, “Under the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, Section 2 defines rape to include the intentional penetration of the vagina, anus, or mouth of another person with any part of the body, such as fingers, or with any object, without the person’s consent.
“There is absolutely no justification for such actions, and there is no nexus between the alleged crime committed by the female suspect and the sexual assault inflicted on her. Nobody should hide under the guise of punishing criminal suspects to commit sexual assault.”
Prince Wiro who is the National Coordinator of the Centre for Basic Rights Protection and Accountability Campaign, said while he understood the devastating impact of “one chance” robberies, which has robbed many victims of their valuables and, in some cases, claimed lives, such crimes do not justify violating the rights of suspects, who must be treated in tandem with the law.
He described the actions of the mob as a violation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Rivers State.
Wiro further argued that the incident reflected gender-based discrimination, noting that while the female suspect was stripped naked and allegedly sexually assaulted, the male suspects arrested alongside her were not subjected to similar treatment.
He stressed that every suspect remains innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction and warned against people using allegations of crime as a pretext to attack, maim or sexually assault others.
The activist also condemned the growing trend of members of the public torturing suspected criminals, forcing them to dance, recording videos of their humiliation and circulating them on social media.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Police Command has reiterated its opposition to mob action and jungle justice.
The Command’s spokesperson, ASP Blessing Agabe, had in June warned residents against taking the law into their own hands while condemning the mob attack on Maria Kobara, who was falsely accused of kidnapping a 12-year-old child on Owo Street, Mile 3, Diobu, Port Harcourt.
She urged residents to report suspected criminal activities to the police instead of resorting to extrajudicial actions, warning that anyone involved in mob violence would face the full weight of the law.
Confirming the latest incident, Agabe said the Command strongly condemned the assault and had commenced investigations.
“The Rivers State Command is saddened by this incident, which has disturbed the relative peace being enjoyed in the state. The Command condemns this act in its entirety and reiterates that the perpetrators will be brought to justice.
“The Rivers State Police Command seeks useful information from members of the public that will assist in our investigation,” she said.
