-Says, she survives by the grace of God
BY: Shallon S.Gonlor/
SANNIQUELLIE, NIMBA CO. — A 29-year-old woman who was allegedly gang raped by six men while serving private security duty at Mount Tokadeh, ArcelorMitta-Liberia mining site in Nimba County has explained her horrific rape incident.
The woman described as ‘terrible’ her encounter and attacked with 6 men who had sexual intercourse with her.
It was on the night of Wednesday, May 15, 2024, when six men gang up against the 29-year-old lady, attacked with machete and gang raped her one at the time, taking away her cellphone value $250USD along with 50 gallons of fuel put at over 40, 000LD.
After the incident, police investigators at the Women and Children Protection Section of the Liberia National Police in Sanniquellie City arrested, charged and sent to court three persons for gang rape, theft of property and arm robbery, while three other suspects remain at large.
Those suspects apprehended include Emmanuel F. Saye, Ojuku Zuu, and Abenego Albert. While First Sunday Prince, Jr. CMB, and God There (Emmanuel Nyanplue) on the run.
Both defendants were charged in violations of Chapter 14; Sub-chapter (d); Section 14.70, Chater 15; Sub-chapter (d); Section 15.51 and Chapter 15; Sub-chapter (c); Section 15.32 of the Revised Penal Code of Liberia.
Explaining her ordeal, the lady, 29, said on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 while on duty as private securit at Mount Tokadeh unknown man attacked and kicked her legs, something she felt flat to the ground.
“On Wednesday at about 3:00 AM, I was on duty at Mount Tokadeh, patrolling as private security personnel than a man yet to be identified kicked my legs and I fell down on the ground.”
She added “There, on the ground the man came over me, covered my face with the jacket that I had on, at which time some of the men have already grabbed and maltreated my workmate, Patrick L. Yarmie who was also on duty with me that Wednesday’s night”.
According to her, one of the men began sexually abusing her with his fingers and later took off her clothes and started having sex with her.
“The man who knocked me down was the first person who put his hand in my vagina. He later took off my clothes and his trouser too and he begin having sex with me”.
She further narrated that after he got finished having sex with her the rest of the other men have her one at the time, noting that after their wicked act, she woke up with crying on Patrick (her workmate).
“I was crying, holding Patrick telling him that those men had sex with me and one of them said his name is ‘Quick-To-Kill’ each time I try to see their faces”.
“It is only by the grace of God, because those men have cutlasses and one of them even said they should cut our throats”, she said.
The 29-year-old rape survivor narrative stressed how she has been deeply affected as the result of the traumatic experience since her rape encounter, calling for justice and support services to aid in her recovery and reintegration into society.
At the same time, on Thursday, June 6, 2024, the Grand Jurors of Nimba County sitting in its May 2034 Term at the 8th Judicial Circuit Court returned a true bill in the gang rape case pending court’s trial.
Based on the sufficiency of evidence, Chapter 15.11 of the Criminal Procedure “The grand jurors shall find an indictment charging the defendant with the commission of an offense when from all the evidence taken together they are convicted there is probable cause to believe him guilty of such offense”.
As the legal proceeding begins, the Ministry of Justice’s arm of prosecution through Nimba County Attorney is expected to indict the case for trail during the upcoming August 2024 Term of Court.
For his part, Patrick L. Yarmie, 45, a private security explained that while on active duty along with the 29-year-old victim and other private security officers, some group of men attacked with cutlasses, grabbed and beat on them.
“They took us to separate locations. as for me, they pushed me under one of the yellow machine. They removed the woman’s clothes and began raping her in my presence, while they put cutlass at my neck and heard, threatened to kill me if any attempt”.
According to Patrick, those men had mask on their faces, stressing that there was no means to identify any.
“So, after some of them abused her, other started saying; when ever they come up the mount to steal or operate, we will usually have them hard time, as one of the started calling his friend’s name such as Quick-to-kill, Seven days, and Dead Body Wake-up, Transporter among others”.
He added “While they were about to go, they took the lady again to another location and abused her, while I was placed in the bathroom. After their operation, they all left, and later I informed the patrol team, took the lady to AML Hospital in Yekepa, but was later referred to the G.W.Harley Hospital in Sanniquellie. This is exactly what happened”.
Despite Liberia is a party to numerous international human rights treaties and instruments including the UN Resolution 1325, which obligates the Government to address sexual and other forms of gender-based violence, women, boys and girls still wait for promised action on rape as the result of weak justice system.
The journey towards justice and healing from the unseen scars of sexual violence requires a multi-faceted approach that prioritizes survivor-centered justice, comprehensive support services, and social change.
With support from international partners and civil society groups, the Government of Liberia passed the Rape Act (2005) and the Domestic Violence Act (2019), both of which increased the penalties for rape and other sexual offenses.
The government also established a specialized court, Court ‘E’ to exclusively prosecute cases of sexual violence, developing an action plan to prevent and respond to sexual and other forms of gender-based violence (SGBV).
Despite these noble efforts, much yet remains to be done. Liberia’s judicial system still faces significant challenges in accessing adequate financial resources, and an effective court network to effectively provide services.
Overcrowded prison facilities, overloaded court dockets, expensive and lengthy litigation processes, and limited support for prosecution and rehabilitation of survivors frustrate the quest for speedy trial and impartial justice.
