A human rights activist, Prince Wiro, has condemned the alleged rape assault and public humiliation of a female suspect arrested over her alleged involvement in a one-chance robbery syndicate along the Rumuosi–Rumuekini axis of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Wiro called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the men seen in a viral video allegedly sexually assaulting the suspect before the arrival of police officers.
In the video seen by our correspondent, several men were allegedly seen 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 described the actions captured in the video as amounting to rape under the provisions of the Rivers State Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, stressing that no individual has the right to subject a suspect to degrading or inhumane treatment.
“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 assault inflicted on her. Nobody should hide under the guise of punishing criminal suspects to commit sexual assault,” he said.
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The National Coordinator of the Centre for Basic Rights Protection and Accountability Campaign acknowledged the gravity of the allegations against the suspect and the devastating impact of one-chance robberies, which have left many victims dispossessed of their property and, in some cases, their lives. However, he maintained that the actions of the mob were contrary to the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Rivers State.
“The actions of the men captured in the video clearly portray them as sexual predators who deserve to be behind bars,” he added.
Wiro further argued that the incident reflected gender-based discrimination, noting that while the female suspect was stripped naked and allegedly assaulted, the male suspects arrested alongside her were not subjected to similar treatment.
He urged the Rivers State Police Command to identify, arrest, and prosecute everyone captured in the viral video, emphasizing that every suspect is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
According to him, prosecuting those responsible would discourage individuals from hiding under the guise of punishing suspected criminals to attack, maim, or sexually assault perceived offenders.
The rights activist also condemned the growing trend of members of the public torturing suspected thieves, forcing them to dance, recording videos of their humiliation, and circulating the footage on social media. He urged the police to ensure that anyone found engaging in such acts is brought to justice.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Police Command had earlier warned residents against mob action and jungle justice.
The Command’s spokesperson, ASP Agabe Kaborlo, issued the warning in June while condemning the mob attack on a woman, Maria Kobara, who was falsely accused of kidnapping a 12-year-old child on Owo Street, Mile 3, Diobu, Port Harcourt.
Kaborlo urged residents to report suspected criminal activities to the police rather than resorting to extrajudicial actions, warning that mob violence and jungle justice would not be tolerated under any circumstances and that perpetrators would face the full weight of the law.
