Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The community leadership of Azunkwo Ndeagbor in the Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State has revoked the banishment of a 34-year-old mother of six who survived alleged domestic violence, gang rape, and mob torture. The reversal, announced on Monday, September 7, 2026, followed legal and advocacy interventions by the Women's Aid Collective (WACOL), which has been monitoring the case and advocating for the survivor's protection and access to justice. The survivor and her family were reportedly banished from the community on the orders of the traditional ruler and President-General after the incident was reported to law enforcement authorities. According to WACOL, the community leadership has now formally withdrawn the banishment order in writing and returned the survivor's personal belongings, including her mobile phone and water storage tank.
The organisation said the Enugu State Police Command had also arrested and arraigned six suspects in connection with the incident. "Following swift advocacy and intervention, we have secured major milestones for the 34-year-old woman who survived mob violence, attempted murder, and banishment in Azunkwo Ndeagbor in Aninri Local Government Area," the statement read. "The community has formally withdrawn the banishment in writing and returned all seized property, including her mobile phone and water tank. The Enugu State Police Command has arrested and arraigned six suspects. We continue to press for the apprehension of the remaining 18 perpetrators to ensure all 24 face the law."
The horrific ordeal began when the woman, whose identity has been withheld for security and privacy reasons, suffered repeated domestic abuse from her husband. After leaving their matrimonial home and renting another apartment, her husband allegedly located her new residence on July 17, 2026, assaulted her, and forced her to flee. She sought refuge at her mother's home, where her husband allegedly followed her and threatened to kill her if she remained there. She later sought temporary shelter through a palm kernel trader known to her. The trader reportedly took her to a friend's house because he was married. Community sources alleged that the owner of the house and another person subsequently restrained the trader before raping the woman. They further alleged that the suspect later disclosed her whereabouts to her husband.
According to accounts, the husband allegedly arrived with a group of people, forced his way into the house, and assaulted both the woman and the trader. The woman was allegedly stripped naked, publicly raped, beaten, and attacked with bottles and cutlasses by members of the mob. Sources further alleged that she was later abandoned in a forest, where she remained for three days before managing to reach a nearby road and being rescued by passers-by. The whereabouts of the palm kernel trader remained unknown at the time of the earlier report. WACOL said that through structured mediation, the survivor and her husband, who allegedly instigated the assault, had also agreed to peaceful coexistence.
The development comes amid continuing calls for stronger protection of survivors of domestic and gender-based violence and for community leaders to refrain from actions that could further expose victims to harm or deny them access to justice. WACOL commended the Enugu State Government, the Commissioner of Police, and the Ministry of Children, Gender and Social Development for their intervention and insistence on due process. The organisation said it would continue to monitor the case and push for the apprehension and prosecution of the remaining suspects.
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