WHO IS TO BLAME?

A teenage girl had committed suicide after being gang raped by three boys in Okwoyi village, Isieke community in Umuahai North Government Area of Abia State.

Comfort Uche-Ume, was allegedly raped by three boys, Ndubuisi, Chinaza, and Francis who are now on the run.  Comfort was a JSS 3 student of Isieke Community Secondary School and has just finished writing the ‘Junior WAEC exam, at the time of incidence.

It was also reported that, two of the culprits hail from Okwoyi while the other is from Ikwuano LGA. The victim who until her death resided at Iyienyi village with her parents had gone in the company of her sister who was married at Okwoyi, a neighbouring village to see her (sister) husband. He said that as evening approached, the deceased opted to return home to remove the clothes they spread outside to save them from getting wet form the rain. But another source said the deceased decided to return home because she was having the key to their house, so that her parents who had been away would not be stranded upon their return.

The Police Public Relation Officer said the deceased was trekking back to Iyienyi village alone; she was allegedly accosted by Ndubuisi who had been making advances at her. He said Ndubuisi was assisted by two other accomplices, dragged the victim to a nearby bush where they gang-raped her, threatening to kill her if she raise any alarm. The police said when the sister of the deceased returned home, she met her crying and after enquires, Comfort narrated her ordeal to her.

Irritated by the sexual assault on her sister, she was said to have informed her husband, who quickly rushed to confront one of the suspects and engaged him in a free-for-all (fight).

According to the police, the victim was later brought to Umuahia Central Police Station around 9pm by her parents to officially report the matter.

Onyeke said after lodging the complaint, the police first decided to take the victim to the police clinic for examination and medical attention.

He said after she was examined and the police wanted to take her statement, but the parents pleaded that they should be allowed to take her home, promising to return the next morning since it was getting late so that they could still get transport home. 

 “But instead of returning as they promised, the parents never showed up. The mother of the deceased rather decided to scold her over the incident. The mother mismanaged the situation. She said to her ‘Have I not warned you not to go to Okwoyi village alone? Now three men have raped you and if you become pregnant, who will be the father of the baby? The next day, the mother of the victim allegedly went to her room again and started talking to her. She later invited her for the family’s morning devotion, but she declined,”

The state police spokesman pointed out that when the family began to hold their morning devotion about 20 minutes later, a shout was heard outside the house and the family members rushed out.

According to him, the initial thinking of family members was that the rapists had come to attack her again. But that was not to be as they were shocked to their marrows to see the lifeless body of their daughter, who was reportedly seen leave her room with a head tie/ veil across her shoulders, dangling on a guava tree beside their house. She had committed suicide!

Police said the deceased might have decided to take her life out of frustration and possible stigmatization.

The PPRO, therefore, advised parents and guardians to exercise caution when “they manage sensitive situations that might come their way, especially the ones affecting their children or wards.” He said, “Parents should avoid stigmatising their children, but treat them with love anytime such unfortunate situation comes up.”

Onyeke also appealed to members of the public with any credible information about the whereabouts of the alleged rapists to volunteer same to the nearest police station for prompt action.

Meanwhile, a source at Okwoyi told our correspondent that the villagers had begun a manhunt for the suspects. The source said hunters had been mobilised to comb every nook and cranny of the village for their possible arrest.

The question one ask is who is to blame for Comfort’s untimely death? Is it Comfort (the deceased), who unfortunately took her own life for fear of stigmatisation, or the mother who never stopped blaming and condemning her daughter for the misfortune that befell her. 

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Story: PunchNg