Mrs Otti Seeks For Laws To Protect Women and Girls Against GBV

 ...As She Visits Gender Base Victim at FMC Umuahia

The wife of the Governor of Abia State,   Mrs. Priscilla Chidinmma Otti,  has called on legal institutions and security agencies to swiftly implement laws and measures to protect women and girls from gender-based violence (GBV)

Mrs. Otti made this call yesterday at the Federal Medical Centre in Umuahia Abia state where she had gone to visit a patient in the hospital who was reportedly suffered brutal physical abuse from her husband one Mr. Lawrence Chukwunyere.

The woman named Mrs. Amarachi Lawrence from Atta Emede Ibeku in Umuahia North LGA of Abia State was alleged to have been inflicted with severe injuries to her eyes by her husband in an attempt to pluck them out   along with machete cuts and genital mutilation.

Speaking to journalists after the visit, Mrs. Otti said the visit was to assess the victim’s condition and explore government support for her treatment and quick recovery even as she made cash donation to the victim.

Mrs Otti also revealed that investigations are still in progress saying the husband could not have acted alone, the state is dedicated to uncovering the truth, promising that everyone implicated will face the full weight of the law

She emphasized the important role of community involvement in addressing gender-based violence (GBV) and praised Emede community youths, Eze Allen Okpokiri, for their quick and effective response in intervening and reporting the case.

An eyewitness account by Mrs. Lovejane Nwiwu, the landlady of the couple who in a bid to save the young lady, said she too, got several cuts from the victim’s husband stated that the couple had been living peacefully without any quarrels until this unfortunate incident where the husband assaulted the wife with a machete, and mutilated the wife for reasons that are best known to him.

Also the head of the community neighborhood watch, Mr. Ambrose Jonah, stated that he received a report l that Mr. Lawrence had complained to his friend named Odogwu that his wife has been unable to get pregnant after one year of their marriage.

The said Odogwu took him to a prayer house in Aba, after which he returned, performed some sacrifices, and became abnormal this led to him reciting incantations and attempting to murder his wife.

Earlier, the director of nursing services, FMC, Mrs. Onyemaobi Aisha while responding on the state of treatment of the victim, the director said, "the victim is currently receiving treatment but until her recovery we cannot ascertain if she will still see with her eyes again".

Meanwhile, the Governor’s wife visited the traditional ruler of Emede community, Eze Allen Okpokiri and assured him that justice for Mrs. Amarachi will be served

She stressed the need for a functional GBV response team in the state, noting that the committee will be established soonest to mitigate cases of domestic violence before it escalate.