44-year-old widow, Anthonia Okonkwo, has narrated her ordeal in the hands of youths who stripped her naked for allegedly harvesting snails from the sacred forest in Enugu State.
Okonkwo said she did not harvest snails from the sacred forest as alleged by the perpetrators.
The widow stated this on Friday when an NGO, the Women Aid Collective (WACOL) led by the Founder, Prof. Joy Ezeilo, visited her in a hospital at Afam-Mmaku in Awgu Local Government Area of the state.
She said she harvested and sold snails in the community for a longtime to cater for her four children since her husband died 13 years ago.
The widow explained that on the fateful day, she was in her house when she heard noises outside and in a swoop, youths invaded her home, dragged her out, without any opportunity to defend herself.
According to her, “the youths started beating me with weapons and clubs, stripped me naked and tied fresh palm fronds around my waist and neck which symbolised an act of taboo in the community.
“I didn’t even know what my offence was until I saw my snail customer in their midst, who said that the youth accosted her on a bike, searched her bag and saw the fresh snails.
“They quizzed her and she led them to my house and that is what I am suffering.
“I did not go to the sacred forest. I pick my snails from the bush and not from the shrine,” she said.
The victim said that she was pained that her relation who came to rescue her was also beaten to stupor for her sake.
Okonkwo listed the names of the perpetrators to include Sunday, Jonathan, Obi, Chigazu and Okechukwu.
Others were Chukwudike Anikene, Chukwuebuka Agu, one Maduabuchi and his father as well as a girl who videotaped her during the attack.
The Police have arrested seven suspects over the incident while others are still at large.
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