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By Emmanuel Adeleke
Taraba State Government has sent a delegation to Nasarawa State to demand justice for a female indigene of the state, Blessing Mathias, who was assaulted by Fred Ekpa Ayokhai, an associate professor in the Department of History and International Studies of Federal University, Lafia, and his three children.
Recall that a video had gone viral on the Internet few weeks ago, where Mathias was seen being assaulted by three men and a lady, which led to the arrest of Ayokhai, Emmanuella Ayokhai, Bob Ayokhai and Saint-Dan Ayokhai, and their subsequent arraignment in court by the Nasarawa State Police Command.
The police also recovered a vehicle belonging to the lecturer, which was used in conveying Mathias to a location along Kwandere road in Lafia, where she was assaulted.
The Federal University, had also since dissociated itself from the action of the lecturer.
Speaking with newsmen in Lafia, the Taraba State Commissioner of Women Affairs and Child Development, Bridget Twar, disclosed that, they were in the state to ensure that justice prevailed in the case, Mathias who is an indigene of Taraba State.
“We are in Nasarawa State to see Blessing by ourselves to ensure that justice is prevailed over her circumstance.
“I am comfortable with the steps that the Nasarawa State has taken and I believe that justice will be given to her. I will go back home (Taraba) and report to the First Lady of our state so that they can continue with what they are doing. It is justice that we want. Nothing more, nothing less,” she said.
On her part, the Nasarawa State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Aishatu Ibrahim, assured the Taraba delegation of justice for Mathias.
“I want to assure my colleague from Taraba State that the case will not be swept under the carpet. Nasarawa State will do everything within the law to ensure that Mathias gets justice,” she said
Also speaking, the Nasarawa State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Abdulkarim Kana, who was on hand to receive the delegation from Taraba State, explained that the matter has reached an advanced stage, noting that majority of the defendants had been arrested by the police.
“The police have arrested four suspects. Both Dr Fred and other persons that was there along with him committing the offence that we all saw on the social media.
“The police have concluded the preliminary stages of investigation and in order not to keep the suspects too long in the police custody, in compliance to the provisions of the constitution, the police ensured that the suspects were arraigned on time so that they can be remanded in prison pending the conclusion of the investigation and continuation of the case,” he said
While speaking with newsmen, the victim’s brother, Franco Bako, expressed doubt about the safety of Blessing in the state, adding that he did not get the kind of assurance he wanted from the state government about her safety.
“From the look of things, I think the Nasarawa State Government is trying its best to see how they can fight for Blessing.
“And my humble state, that is Taraba, I learnt that the governor is interested and the women affairs commissioner is here to fight for Blessing.
“Blessing’s safety is not yet guaranteed the way I expected it. But I also have my own ways of doing things which I will not disclose to the media,” he said.