Head Of Department In Rivers Higher Institution Accused Of Raping Female Student
A female student of Rivers State College of Health Science and Management Technology located at Rumueme, Port Harcourt, Rivers State has filed a complaint of rape, sexual harassment and intimidation against a male lecturer of the institution who is also a Head of Department(HOD) in the college.
Mother of the traumatized victim, Lemon Gbara, who spoke to journalists after she led her twenty one year old daughter and a student of the institution to file a complaint against the HOD at the human rights desk at headquarters of Rivers State Police Command last Monday called for justice for her daughter.
Mrs Gbara, a widow accused the HOD of raping and constantly harassing her daughter.
She disclosed that on 16th April, 2021 her daughter came very early in the morning to school since she has exams to write in the morning hours.
Mrs Gbara revealed that the HOD told her daughter to assist him carry a generating set outside from a packing store close to the lecturer’s office.
Mrs Gbara explained that the HOD, locked the door immediately her daughter walked inside the packing store and allegedly intimidated and forcefully had sex with her daughter against her consent.
Mrs Gbara alleged that the HOD threatened her daughter that if she tells anybody or refuse to comply any time he needs her, he will ensure she does not graduate from the institution.
She regretted that her daughter who is barely four months in the institution is being subjected to serious trauma which made her to contemplate committing suicide.
Mrs Gbara a native of Ogoni called on the Rivers State Government to help her get justice.
In the meantime, a human rights lawyer and a member of Centre for Basic Rights Protection and Accountability Campaign, IK Alexander, has urged the Police to ensure a thorough and unbiased investigation into the report for justice to be served in the matter.
Our reporter gathered that the Police will write officially to the provost of the institution requesting release of the lecturer to the Police for proper investigation.
A WhatsApp message sighted by our reporter which was sent by the female student to the Head of Department, indicates the female student accused the HOD of forcefully having sex with her.
The WhatsApp message also showed that it was read by the HOD.
Other WhatsApp communication were also sighted by our reporter.
