There is disquiet in
Enugu and beyond over the alleged attack on the office of Women Aid Collective,
(WACOL) by men of the Nigeria Police, Enugu Command.
The incident, linked
to an investigation of a rape incident, left a female lawyer in coma.
She was said to have
been rushed to the intensive care unit of the National Orthopaedic Hospital,
Enugu, where she is currently recuperating.
WACOL is a rights
organization renowned for championing the rights of the vulnerable, especially
the women.
Confirming the attack
in a statement the Head of Communication, WACOL, Mrs. Egodi Igwe, the rights
group described the brutal attack as unacceptable.
The statement was
signed by WACOL founder and director, Prof. Mrs. Joy Ezeilo.
The Nigerian Bar
Association, NBA, has also not been left behind in condemning the incident.
While giving details
on the said attack, Ezilo said trouble had started when the policemen from the
Abakpa Area Command invaded the WACOL office following a report from one Miss
(Name withheld) a 21 year old lady, who alleged that she was raped by one
Uchenna.”
Meanwhile, expressing
outrage over the said attack, the NBA called on the police authorities to bring
all those involved to book.
Mr. Kunle Edun,
National Publicity Secretary, NBA, said information available to the
Association “has confirmed that the officers of the Area Command, Enugu in
Enugu State that are supposed to be protecting citizens, again, took laws into
their hands when they invaded, attacked and molested staff of WACOL (Women Aid
Collective) at the NGO’s office in Enugu.
In the meantime, the
police in the State have called for calm, with the commissioner of police in
the State, Mr Ahmed Abdurrahman promising that discreet investigation would be
carried out on the matter.
In a statement issued
by the command, the CP urged all the aggrieved parties to maintain the peace,
stating that investigations had commenced and that anyone found liable would
face the wrath of the law.