A Nigerian woman, identified as Mrs. Patricia Okpako, has declared that she escaped being raped by herdsmen by throwing her menstrual pad at them.
These reports came as one man was feared killed and another battling for life at the Delta State University Teaching Hospital, DELSUTH, Oghara, following an attack by herdsmen at their cassava farm in Abraka.
During the course of this incidence, it was reported that a father of 11, Mr. Happy Akpomiemie, was killed,and his wife, Mrs. Patience Akpomiemie, was reportedly shot on the back by the herdsmen, while trying to escape from the scene of the attack.
Expressing worries that if nothing was done to stem the renewed attacks by herdsmen in the area, the member representing Ethiope East in the state House of Assembly, Mr. Evance Ivwurie, said:
“I am afraid we are going to resort to self-help in defending ourselves.”
On the menstrual pad causing commotion, Mrs. Okpako while giving details on how she escaped being raped said:
“The herdsmen did not believe when I told them I was menstruating. As they insisted on seeing evidence, I brought out the bloody pad and threw it at them.It caused commotion among them. In the confusion that followed, I fled and escaped.”
Speaking on his ordeal, son of Happy Akpomiemie, Elvis, who had accompanied his parents to the farm, said:
“Sensing danger, my father told me to run and that he and my mother will look for a way to escape. “As soon as I started running, my mother followed. But unfortunately, she was shot on the back and this was followed by three more gunshots. “I was able to run for safety and hid in the bush till 10p.m, before I came out to town.
My mother was also able to run to safety, from where she was taken to Abraka General Hospital and subsequently referred to Oghara, owing to the seriousness of her wounds.” We might resort to self-help—Lawmaker Ivwurie, speaking during a visit to the affected families, said:
“It is so unfortunate that in the last two years, 12 of my constituents have been killed by these herdsmen. Today, we are running to save the life of this woman while another is missing. “I am calling on the Inspector General of Police and Delta State Commissioner of Police to immediately send a team to Abraka in the next 24 hours, to comb the area and find these culprits, else I am afraid we are going to resort to self-help and I am ready to die for this cause.”
