A human rights activist, Prince Wiro, has condemned the alleged sexual assault and public humiliation of a female suspect accused of belonging to a “one chance” robbery syndicate in Rivers State, demanding the immediate arrest and prosecution of those involved.
Wiro’s call followed a viral video showing the woman 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 police officers arrived.
The disturbing footage, which has sparked widespread outrage, allegedly showed several men sexually assaulting the suspect after stripping her naked in public.
Reacting to the incident, Wiro described the act as criminal and insisted that no allegation of robbery could justify sexual violence or mob justice.
According to him, the actions of the mob amount to rape under the Rivers State Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law.
“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,” he said.
The National Coordinator of the Centre for Basic Rights Protection and Accountability Campaign noted that while “one chance” robberies have left many victims traumatised and, in some cases, dead, suspects must still be treated in accordance with the law.
He argued that the mob’s actions also violated the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Rivers State and amounted to gender-based discrimination, noting that the male suspects arrested alongside the woman were not subjected to similar humiliation.
Wiro further decried the increasing trend of members of the public torturing suspected criminals, forcing them to dance, recording videos of their humiliation and sharing them on social media.
He stressed that every suspect remains innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Police Command has condemned the incident and confirmed that investigations have commenced.
Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Blessing Agabe, said the Command was disturbed by the assault and vowed that those responsible would be brought to justice.
“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,” she said.
Agabe appealed to members of the public to provide useful information that could assist investigators and warned residents against taking the law into their own hands.
She reiterated the Command’s stance against jungle justice, urging residents to report criminal activities to the police rather than resorting to mob action.
