Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has ordered an immediate investigation into the case of brutalisation and rape of a lady by his Commissioner for Water Resources, Mr Abdulmumini Danga. In a statement issued in Lokoja on Thursday, the Commissioner for information and communication, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, the Governor assured that he will not tolerate any form of oppression against the people of the state. “The governor, being an avowed advocate of fundamental human rights is shocked by these allegations and will not allow them to go uninvestigated. “The governor has ordered accelerated investigation into the matter and hereby assures both accuser and accused, as well as the general public, that the whole truth will be uncovered and justice served as appropriate,” the commissioner said. A lady, Oyeniyi Elizabeth, had accused the Commissioner of abducting and assaulting recently in Lokoja recently. According to her, she was beaten over a Facebook post where she criticised the commissioner for not helping his (the commissioner) sister.
I am Oyeniyi Elizabeth, known as Queen Nina on Facebook. 4 days ago, I posted something about the commissioner who isn’t helping his kid sister who happens to be my friend and someone took it up, sent the screenshot to him and sent some group of guys to my house to get me to his place in Lokoja from Okene. “On getting there, he beat me up, stripped me naked, took a video of me being naked and dealt with me. “The commissioner also smashed my phone and destroyed it totally, saying that maybe I might have been recording what was happening or I have been recording before getting there. READ Kogi Doctors Condoles Governor Bello Over Mother’s Death “
They also made me apologise that what I said about him was not true under duress. I had to do so because they were all over me,” she narrated. Elizabeth who was based in Abuja but returned to her home town in Okene, Kogi state due to the pandemic COVID-19 further explained how she had to return to Abuja due to further threats by the commissioner.
From there, due to fear, I had to leave with my son because they came to pick me and my 3-year-old son. Due to fear, I had to rush back to Abuja,” she said. Narrating how the commissioner raped her, Elizabeth said that he held her captive and took her to a hotel at night where he forcefully had sex with her. “He did not release me and took me to a hotel nearby. Over the night, he made advances and raped me.”
However, government in the statement, reaffirmed its unalloyed commitment to the protection of all residents from all forms of oppression “We will not tolerate violence against women or children under any form or guise. “We give our word that if these allegations are proven, everyone found culpable will be brought to justice,”
the statement said. Meanwhile, a rights advocate, Dorothy Njemanze is leading a nationwide demand for justice for Elizabeth. She said that a coalition of human rights organisations had been set-up to ensure that the victim gets justice and duly compensated. She also called for the immediate suspension of the commissioner from the cabinet of the Kogi State governor.
