By Gbenga Odogun
The Kogi State Police Command has arrested a prime suspect Arome Danjuma who allegedly ambushed and stripped a girl naked in a viral video.
Danjuma, alongside his friend who is currently at large, were reported to have carried out the dastardly act in Achigili village around Abocho under Dekina Local Government Area of the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP William Aya, while briefing journalists at the command headquarters in Lokoja on Saturday said investigations were still ongoing to apprehend the other suspect who was on the run.
The incident was widely condemned by the general public and according to the state PPRO, the culprits would be made to face the full wrath of the law.
The police spokesperson added that the suspect will soon be charged to court.
The survivor, who identified herself as Alami, said one of the suspects approached her for marriage which she refused.
Narrating the incident, she said, “One of the guys approached me for marriage which I refused. When I closed from work on my way going home at about 8pm last week Sunday 19th, he attacked me and forced me to his house and started beating me.
“Another person was waiting in his house carrying knife and axe threatening to kill me if I don’t pull off my cloth. I had no option but to obey them if not they would have killed me in the room. When I pulled off my cloth, they started filming my nakedness and later posted it on the internet. They just want to destroy my life”
Speaking during an interview, the suspect, Danjuma, confessed to have committed the crime stressing that, he conspired with his friend to commit the atrocity.
Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Women Affairs who was represented by the Director, Research Planning and Statistics, Ministry of Women Affairs, who is also the Secretary of the Kogi State GBV Technical Workgroup, Mr. Oseni Isaac, described the incident as one of the most barbaric in recent time. He described the act as animalistic which he said would not be acceptable in the state.
Isaac noted that the ministry is out to fight any act of gender-based violence in the state, warning that it would no longer be business as usual for anyone who intends to perpetuate gender-based violence in Kogi State.
Also reacting, the Executive Director, Challenged Parenthood Initiative, Eunice Agbogun, described the incident as barbaric.
“This is the height of gender-based violence. This is a serious crime against humanity. We feel that this case must go through the entire process and justice must prevail. Am glad that the police have prevailed.
“We are glad that the perpetrator has been arrested and we have been assured by the police that justice will prevail.
“We will follow up on this case as this is a strong warning to other perpetrators of GBV out there as it will no longer be business as usual.”
Source: The Punch
