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…Calls For Prosecution of Jennifer Nnne Nelson Over Child Abuse.

The Rivers State Response Team on Violence Against Women & Children has condemned the brutalization of Miss. Winnie Uchechi, and her mum Mrs. Faith Chimela Miller by the Chairman of Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State, Hon. Eugene Cheta Epelle, and his younger brother, Monday Epelle.

The Team expressed serious displeasure over the inability of security Personnel who allegedly accompany the chairman and his younger brother in company of thugs to the victims family house at Odioku Village to act in protection of life, and maintenance of peace during the incident on Sunday 1st of March, 2026.

Tombari Dumka-Kote, Coordinator, Rivers State Response Team on Violence Against Women & Children, stated this while speaking to newsmen in Port Harcourt during a joint press briefing by civil society actors at the Human Rights Clinic, hosted by Relief International.

Dumka-Kote said the action of the Ahoada West Local Government Chairman and his brother is not just about abuse of power and intimidation of citizens against their Constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of expression, but violates the provisions of sections 2, 4 and 9 of the Rivers State Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law 2020. He called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of Hon. Eugene Cheta Epelle and Mr. Monday Epelle by the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State.

The Team is also calling for the immediate withdrawal and sanctioning of security personnel attached to the Chairman who witnessed the incident and failed to act in maintenance of law and order to prevent the urgly incident.

‘There are better ways provided by the law that is available for the Chairman to have explored in addressing whatever grievances he has, and not taking the laws into his hand.

He failed as a public servant in this wise and need to face the law to serve as a lesson to persons boosting to abuse public office and nothing will happen’.

In a related development, the Rivers State Response Team on Violence Against Women and Children is calling for the immediate prosecution of one Mrs. Jennifer Nne Nelson from Abia State, and her husband over the battery and abuse of a 5 year old child resulting in life threatening injuries at the Elimbu axis of Port Harcourt.

Coordinator of the Team, Tombari Dumka-Kote, who hailed neighbours and residents around the Elimbu Community for coming to the aid and rescue of the little girl, is calling on the Rivers State Police Commissioner, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, to order the Divisional Police Officer of the Elimbu Division to immediately arraign the suspect and her husband in court.

Dumka-Kote, promised that his Team will work hard to re-unite the little girl who is alleged to have been brought from her parents in Ogoni to Port Harcourt to serve as maid, cautioned parents against given out their under-aged children as maid to anyone irrespective of the circumstance.

The Response Team Coordinator vowed that his Team will not allow the matter to be swept under the carpet.

‘’As a Team, we committed to ensuring that perpetrators of gender based violence, irrespective of how highly placed, are made to face the law’’ Dumka-Kote stated.

SayNoToGenderBasedViolence. #FreeRiversFromGBVPerpetrators.

Queeneth Igbara
Communication/Public Enlightenment Officer.