LAPAI, Nigeria – An 18-year-old private television station presenter was gang-raped by six men in Lapai, Niger state, on Saturday, July 15, 2023, triggering outrage and calls for justice.
The young presenter, returning home from her office, received a phone call from an acquaintance urging her to come to the Kobo Primary School near the Emir’s Palace in the town.
Upon responding to the call and entering a classroom where the caller was allegedly waiting, she was reportedly drugged, causing her to pass out.
The assailants then took her phone, removed the SIM card, deleted all information on the device, and left her on the classroom floor after the heinous act.
Aliyu Abdullahi Kure, the founder of the Lapai TV station where the presenter worked, confirmed the incident, stating that the victim’s mother was the one who informed him of the disturbing event.
“The presenter was taken to the hospital where medical experts confirmed she was ganged raped,” Kure said. Despite the effects of the drugging, the victim was able to identify one of her assailants, leading to his arrest.
Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, also confirmed the incident, announcing that two suspects have been taken into custody about the crime, and that the investigation is still ongoing.
This shocking incident has sparked outcry in the community and nationwide, as activists and citizens call for justice and increased protection for women against sexual violence.
It also underscores the urgent need for heightened measures to address and combat the troubling rise in gender-based violence across Nigeria.
Life Cut Short: Enugu Councillor, Nelson Sylvester, Brutally Murdered at Home
Tension is rising in Nsukka and neighbouring communities following the alleged murder of a local government councillor, Nelson Sylvester, popularly known as Ofunwa.
Sylvester, who represented the Eha-Ulo ward in the Nsukka Local Government Area Legislative Council, Enugu State, was reportedly shot dead at his residence in Eha-Alumonah on Sunday, July 16, 2023.
Details of the incident remain unclear at this time.
However, according to a reliable source who wished to remain anonymous, unidentified assailants stormed Sylvester’s residence and opened fire on the councillor.
The source said the lifeless body of the councillor was later discovered in a neighbouring compound, suggesting he had tried to escape his attackers.
“It is heartbreaking; it is too hard for us to swallow. We are in deep agony,” the source stated, describing the incident as one of many suspected assassinations in the area. The murder has sparked fear and unease among residents in Nsukka and surrounding communities.
Attempts to confirm the incident from the Enugu State Police were unsuccessful.
The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Enugu, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, reportedly said he could not respond to calls.
As of this report, it remains unknown if any leads or suspects have been identified concerning Sylvester’s alleged assassination.
The community awaits further updates from the police regarding their investigation into this shocking incident.
