EK EOWE, BAYELSA—Tragedy struck the Ekeowe community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State on Friday when a man suspected of raping a 10-year-old girl succumbed to injuries from a brutal vigilante beating.
The incident unfolded after family women discovered the assault on the minor and conducted a physical examination, confirming signs of violation. Enraged male relatives swiftly apprehended the suspect, identified as Mr. Tarila Preye, a local resident, and administered 40 strokes of the cane as instant retribution. Preye collapsed during the flogging and was pronounced dead on the spot, witnesses told our correspondent.
The deceased’s family, mourning their loss, mobilized for a counter-protest that escalated into chaos. Protesters vandalized several properties, including homes and shops linked to the girl’s relatives, with damages estimated at millions of naira. No arrests were made during the melee, though community leaders appealed for restraint to prevent further bloodshed.
As of Saturday morning, tensions lingered in the riverside settlement, with youths patrolling streets and residents divided along family lines. Bayelsa State Police Command spokesperson, SP Alonye Ndi, confirmed the command’s awareness and deployed officers to restore order. “We are investigating the matter thoroughly, including the circumstances of the alleged rape and the mob action that led to the death,” Ndi said in a statement. “Vigilantism will not be tolerated; justice must follow due process.”
Local leaders, including Ekeowe Community Development Committee Chairman, Mr. Ebide Ebipade, urged calm while demanding swift prosecution if the rape allegations hold. “This is a double tragedy— a child violated and a man killed without trial. We need government intervention to heal our community,” Ebipade pleaded.
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No official autopsy results or formal charges have been announced, but human rights groups like the Bayelsa State chapter of the Civil Liberties Organisation condemned the violence from both sides, calling for an independent probe. The incident highlights Nigeria’s recurring vigilante justice crises in remote areas where distrust in formal systems runs deep.
Authorities have imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in Southern Ijaw to quell unrest, as residents await clarity on what many fear could ignite a broader clan clash.
