Tension is mounting in Rivers State following allegations that the Chairman of Ahoada West Local Government Area, Mr. Eugene Epelle Cheta, supervised the assault of a teenage girl, Winnie Miller, for exposing the deplorable condition of a secondary school in Odiokwu community in the area.
Residents of the area alleged that the girl had taken photographs and recorded videos of the decaying school infrastructure and shared them on social media to draw public attention to its condition.
The affected school, located in Odiokwu, the hometown of the council chairman, is reportedly the only secondary school in the community. The town is also home to the member representing Ahoada West/Ogba Egbema–Ndoni Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr. Victor Obuzor.
Community members described the facility as being in a “sorry state,” with dilapidated structures and unsafe learning conditions.
According to sources, rather than initiating steps to rehabilitate the school, the chairman allegedly led some associates and security aides to the residence of the girl’s family, where she was reportedly assaulted and sustained injuries, including a bruised lip.
A resident, Mr. Tamuno Briggs, condemned the incident, stating, “No democratic government is above constructive criticism. What the young girl said about the school is true. Assaulting her over it is unacceptable.”
Another community member, Mrs. Gift Eke, said: “Our attention has been drawn to the intimidation and harassment of Winnie Uchechi for speaking up about the failure to renovate the secondary school in her village. Leadership requires accountability, not violence.”
The residents called on the Rivers State Commissioner of Police to immediately arrest and prosecute the council chairman for alleged assault occasioning harm, insisting that public office holders must be held accountable.
However, in a statement reportedly issued by the local council, the chairman denied the allegation of assault. The statement claimed that he visited the girl’s mother’s residence for what it described as a peaceful engagement.
“Moments later, the accuser moved aggressively toward the chairman while continuing her verbal attack. A passerby intervened to prevent escalation. In the process of being restrained, she reportedly lost her balance, fell, and sustained minor injuries,” the statement read.
When contacted, the Rivers State Police Command confirmed that it had commenced an investigation into the matter.
The spokesperson for the command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said the police would provide further details after the preliminary findings were concluded.
