A woman identified as Miss Oge has alleged that she was abducted, assaulted and forcibly taken to a psychiatric hospital after taking a family inheritance dispute to court in Enugu State.
Oge, from Obe community, made the allegations through the Women Aid Collective (WACOL), claiming that her efforts to seek her share of her family’s property triggered a series of actions against her.
According to her account, members of the Obe Community Task Force allegedly abducted and physically assaulted her after she pursued legal action over the inheritance dispute.
She further alleged that some members of her family began portraying her as mentally unstable in an attempt to discredit her claims and prevent her from pursuing her property rights.
Oge claimed that the situation escalated when she was allegedly taken from where she was sleeping and transported to the Enugu Neuropsychiatric Hospital, where she said she was given medication against her will.
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She maintained that she is mentally sound and alleged that she has continued receiving medication despite objecting to the treatment.
“I was abducted and assaulted because I took my inheritance matter to court,” she was quoted as saying.
The woman also accused officers at the Ozalla Police Station of failing to provide adequate protection despite her alleged reports of threats to her safety.
WACOL has called on the Nigeria Police Force to conduct an immediate and transparent investigation into the allegations of abduction, assault and threats against Oge.
The organisation also urged authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding her alleged admission and treatment at the psychiatric facility and ensure that anyone found responsible for unlawful acts is held accountable.
WACOL further called on the Nigerian Bar Association to examine allegations concerning the possible involvement of a legal practitioner in the dispute.
The organisation described the allegations as a serious human rights concern, warning that using claims of mental illness to undermine a woman pursuing her property rights would set a disturbing precedent if established.
It also called for Oge’s protection and urged relevant government agencies, women’s rights organisations and human-rights groups to intervene in the matter.
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