An 18-year-old man from Ebonyi State who is on visit to his elder brother, Ebube Linus, has been arrested, for raising false alarm on a 68 years old woman over his missing manhood.
The woman, was lynched to the point of death by a mob on Delta Broadcasting Service (DBS) Road, Asaba.
The young man was paraded on Wednesday October 11th 2023, by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Bright Edafe, before newsmen at the Command’s headquarters, Okpanam Road, Asaba, the State capital.
The command’s image maker, regretted that the woman was beaten and stripped naked by a mob for a crime she didn’t commit.
According to Edafe, when the command operatives arrived the scene, the woman was rescued and sent to the hospital, revealing that three hospitals rejected her before a private hospital accepted her for treatment.
“On Sunday 8th October 2023, the social media was awash by a certain woman who was stripped naked by irate mob over allegation that she made the male organ of one of the suspects we have here to disappear.
“When the Command got that information on Sunday, the control room was directed by the CP to quickly call on the DPO GRA Division who mobilized and led men to DBS Road, opposite Elomaz Hotel, where the woman was rescued and as God will have it, the suspect, this 18-year-old suspect, his name is Ebube Linus, who claimed that his male organ was made to disappear by the woman, was also arrested.
“So, on getting to the station, it was discovered that he lied because he saw for himself that nothing was happening to him. So, the question is, why raise such a false rumour? Apart from raising such a false rumour, why would Nigerians, our youths and some elderly ones among us bounce on a woman, taking laws into their hands?
“Not just beating her but stripping her naked and people like you and I also sent such videos to the internet. As I am speaking with you, a mother, a wife and a child because I believe she is a daughter to somebody, the video is all over the internet being beaten and stripped naked.
“It makes no sense especially for frivolous allegation such as this one”.
The PPRO, gave the name of the woman as Mrs. Ann Ikechukwu, a 68 years old woman, adding, “as I am speaking with you, on that very day, I was made to understand that about three hospitals rejected her because she was badly beaten.
“Now, she is being managed at a private hospital but today, I will be going there to relocate her to a better hospital where she can get a better medication”.
He disclosed that two siblings of the suspect, Sunday and Chinago Linus, who were invited by the suspect, partook in the beating of the woman, wondering why he would allow mob to beat up the woman in such a dehumanizing manner.
He revealed that others who were shown in the viral video, beating the woman, would be apprehended and made to face the wrath of the law, “we will go after them and arrest them. Jungle justice cannot stay in this Command.
“We will not tolerate it, we will go all out, arrest and prosecute anybody who is found wanting”, he warned.
The suspect, Ebube Linus, a resident along Okpanam road, who narrated his own side of the story, disclosed that he was on his way to Elomaz Hotel, to buy food when trouble started.
Hear him: “On Sunday, I was going to Elomaz hotel to go and buy food. So, I sat in the Keke, and was waiting for other passengers to come fill it before we move.
“So, I saw this woman across, she came to me and entered the Keke and I greeted her and she said I should pay for her transportation. On getting there, I saw the woman coming down with me at the same junction.
“As she came down, I started feeling somehow, like I couldn’t get myself again. I now came down and asked the woman what she did in my body, she should return it.
*She then said we should come down that nobody should not touch her that she will return or carry us somewhere in Ogwashi-Uku but she was now touching my body and saying anything that removed from my body should come back till the officers now came and carried us to the station”.
He affirmed that he didn’t join in beating the woman but that one of his brothers, joined in mobbing the 68 years old woman.
The Senior Secondary School (SS1) Student with dreadlock who could not speak good English, said he lives in Lagos State with the mother but is in Delta for a visit.
DSP Bright, disclosed that they would be charged for attempted murder.
