A disturbing incident has been reported in the Emoh community, Kreden Abua, Abua/Odual Local Government Area, where a pregnant woman, Queen Umeka, was allegedly subjected to physical abuse, harassment, and humiliation. The incident, which occurred on November 24, 2024, involved members of the community taking the law into their own hands and meting out a brutal form of punishment on the victim.
According to TPCN, Queen Umeka, a 32-year-old native of the Emoh community, was accused of stealing two bunches of plantain. In a shocking display of disregard for the rule of law and human rights, some members of the community apprehended her, stripped her naked, and paraded her around the community.
This horrific incident is a clear violation of Queen Umeka’s constitutional rights and fundamental human dignity. The physical and emotional abuse she suffered is unacceptable and warrants immediate attention and action from the relevant authorities.
The incident raises serious concerns about the lack of respect for human rights and the rule of law in some communities. It highlights the need for education, awareness, and community engagement to promote human rights, gender equality, and the protection of vulnerable individuals, particularly pregnant women.
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The authorities must take swift and decisive action to investigate this incident, hold the perpetrators accountable, and provide support and protection to Queen Umeka.
The lady in question was accused of stealing two bunches of plantain from a land that was in dispute between her and her accuser’s family.
According to Miss Queen Umeka, her father planted the plantain in the disputed land. The other family that was disputing the land with her raised a false alarm and she was apprehended and stripped naked then afterwards paraded in the entire Community.
Further investigation by TPCN showed that the land where the plantain was cut from is a piece of land in dispute between her family and that of her accusers.
Both families have over the years resorted to traditional arbitration, in which decisions have continuously been rejected by the accusers.
This has led to Port Harcourt-based Human Rights Activist, Moses Emmanuel Pamibi’s Cry to the executive governor of the state; Siminalayi Fubara, and Chairman of Abua/Odual local government area; Vicent Obua to come to the rescue of the victim and ensure that justice prevails.
Moses Emmanuel further went on his Facebook post to condemn the barbaric act, labeling it as a slap on the human rights of Queen Umeka.
“The act of stripping her naked offends the letters of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, particularly in Section 34 which guarantees every Nigerian (including Miss Queen Umeka) the right to dignity of the human person. This right has been stripped off her in broad daylight by persons who are aware of her poor state and ignorantly thought she has no one to fight for her.
Let’s assume (but not concede) that the plantain was indeed stolen, stripping her naked is beyond the contemplation of Nigeria’s criminal jurisprudence. This is premised on the fact that well articulated in Section 36 of the constitution, every accused person is presumed innocent unless proven to be guilty by her accusers. This proof must be done in court.” He concluded.
Jungle Justice is Barbaric and Animalistic and has been frowned upon by the government of Nigeria.
The ball remains in the court of The Nigerian Police to ensure that justice prevails.
more reports to come on this…
