A 72-year-old woman, Charity Okoli, whose genitals were cut by her house help, Onyebuchi Ezeh, and two others in Umunze, Rumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State, is dead.
This development was made known on Tuesday following a protest by members of her community in Umunze.
The Eagle Online recalls that Okoli’s genitals were cut off on March 2, 2023.
The development was revealed to the media by Chidinma Ikeanyionwu, the Media Assistant to the Anambra State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Ivy Obinabo.
Ikeanyionwu, who spoke with newsmen on March 5, 2023, said Ezeh and the victim, who was taken to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Amaku Awka, for treatment, were neighbours.
Among Okoli’s genitals cut off by her attackers for ritual purposes after they allegedly raped her were her breasts, finger, tongue and private part.
During the protest in Umunze on Tuesday, the protesters went to the Umunze Area Police Command Headquarters; palace of the community’s traditional ruler, Igwe Promise Eze; and local government area headquarters.
The spokesperson of the protesters, Enekwechi Bridget, told newsmen: “The entire Umunze community resolved to come together today for a peaceful protest because Abakaliki people resident in our community raped one of us in Ubaha village and cut off her tongue, one of her fingers, two nipples of her breasts and her private part.
“So, that is why we are here to complain to the Transition Committee Chairman of the Local Government Area so he can take our report to Awka, the state capital, for necessary action.
“We are demanding justice and that the suspects should face the full weight of the law because women are not supposed to face such torture and suffering in the hands of heartless criminal elements.”
The President-General of the Umunze Progressives Union, Chief Hippolite Olua, commended the women for the peaceful protest.
Olua promised them that their complaints would be given prompt attention by the police and other relevant authorities.
Eze lamented that his subjects have suffered so much at the hands of non-indigenes.
The traditional ruler called for calm as police and leaders of the community were working round the clock to ensure that justice is done at the end of the day.
He said: “I have told the police command that the suspect must be charged to court for murder and they have assured me that the matter would not be swept under the carpet.
“I have instructed the youth to exercise restraint while awaiting the outcome of the case.”
