Two Vigilante Operatives Nabbed over Rape, Torture of Widow’s Teenage Daughter in Anambra

By Praise Chinecherem

Two vigilante operatives in Nkpor, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State have been arrested for allegedly torturing and raping a 15 year old girl, Miss Glory Joseph.

Narrating her daughter ordeal to newsmen, mother to the victim, Mrs Helen Joseph, a widow appealed to Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Commissioner of Police and Women Affairs Commissioner, Hon. Ify Obinabo to come to her rescue before she would be denied justice.

She said, ” I am a widow and mother of six, from Makurdi, Benue State, We live at Nkpor, on the fateful day three vigilante operatives and a girl stormed my apartment.

“The girl accused my daughter of removing #13,000 she kept in a particular place and my daughter told them that she did not understand what they were saying and didn’t take any money.

“Immediately they started beating her and dragged her to their torture camp. That day was like hell to me because she is my only daughter and they kept deaf ears to all my pleas that they should release her.

“In the night, they tortured her and their leader raped her while others held her. Early in the morning the next day they dumped her at the gate of our compound with blood all over her body and she couldn’t talk because she was unconscious.

“I had no option than to rush to Ogidi police station and one of them, the one that raped her, was arrested and the police took my daughter to hospital where it was confirmed that she was raped.

“At the Ogidi Police station, instead of the police to arrest the remaining two, they tried to release the one they arrested without tangible reason and I had to get in touch with the state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Tochukwu Ikenga, and the case was transferred to Awka.

“At Awka, the police arrested one more, making them two as the one at Ogidi was brought to Awka. The leaders of the vigilante group and friends to the vigilante group approached and begged me to take #50,000 and I said no that I want justice for my daughter.

“Next day they came and pleaded with #100,000 and I said I want justice and they boasted to me that since I refused to take #100,000 that they will give it to police and those arrested will be released and true to their words, the two who were detained have been released.

“Because I don’t have anybody on my side, the police told me that they will come to Nkpor and interview people on the incident. Luckily for me, a neighbour, has confessed to me that it was her daughter that removed the controversial #13,000 and and not my daughter and begged me to forgive her.

“I am pleading to Governor Soludo, Commissioner of Police and Women Affairs Commissioner, Hon. Ify Obinabo to come to my rescue before they deny me justice as my daughter now lives in pains,” she pleaded.

Contacted, Police spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga confirmed the incident, saying investigation is on going.