The Lagos State House of Assembly has commissioned a committee to investigate the case of two women who were stripped naked, beaten and tortured by unknown men in a market located in Ejigbo Local Government Area of Lagos state for allegedly stealing pepper.
Recently, a video showing the torturous experience two women were subjected to by suspected touts surfaced online and caused uproar in the public domain.
Human Rights Activist, Joe Okei Odumakin, who is at the fore-front of the struggle to ensure that justice is delivered and the criminals brought to book told Channels Television on Tuesday
while speaking on Sunrise Daily, that parties concerned in the case, includes the police, activists, community leaders, the chairman of the local government, market men and women, noting that they will be invited to give their account of the incident.
According to Mrs Odumakin, the video, showing how at least four bottles of grounded pepper as well as broken sticks were forced into their private parts, was brought to the attention of the group on December 7th. She however noted that intelligence reports reveal that the incident happened 10 months ago.
The Chairman, Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, Mr Kehinde Bamigbetan issued a statement that the incident occurred in February. He also disclosed that the older victim is the wife of a palm wine tapper while the younger victim is her stepdaughter.
Odumakin who described the act as “brazen, bestial and barbaric” agonized with the victims who she said will have to live with such dehumanization all their lives, “but the only thing that will give them succour is when they see justice.”
Efforts to bring the culprits to book have proved unsuccessful as residents in the area have maintained a ‘criminal silence’ out of fear.
However, Mrs Odumakin said the rise in such acts indicates the increase of impunity and called for a change in the mindset of the people who may consider jungle justice.
Although the group is yet to solicit the cooperation of the police, it has petitioned the Lagos State House of Assembly to ensure justice is given to the two female victims who are now being referred to as the ‘Ejigbo 2.’
“Honestly, impunity is on the rise and these people will be walking about free. Apart from walking about free, they would still be perpetuating this heinous act. So more than ever, we need to smoke them out of their holes,” she said.
She appealed to members of the community to volunteer information to help unravel the identity of the criminals. Citizens with useful information are to call or send text messages to 08037223313, 08034090205
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