A physically challenged victim of gender-based violence who was locked inside a house for a week without food by his mother and siblings for refusing to release building documents belonging to his sister living abroad to them has been rescued.
The visually impaired victim, Mr. Lucky Osarenkhoe was rescued on Monday by the Gender Based Violence Management Committee led by the first lady of Edo state, Mrs. Obaseki
Speaking to newsmen at the Oredo Health Centre, where he was rushed to for medical checkup by the Commissioner for Youth and Gender Affairs, Andrew Adaze Emwanta Esq, the victim said he was detained inside the family house because he refused to release documents of a building belonging to his sister living abroad to them
“On Tuesday last week, my mother, younger brother and sister locked me inside the house saying I will die. I was only eating the little Garri in the house before I was rescued by the Police from Ugbowo Police Station.
“I refused to give them the documents of the building for them to sell to buy a tipper for my younger brother and since then they have been torturing me and they locked me inside the house,” he added.
The former musician before he was diagnosed of glaucoma ten years ago, thanked the first lady of Edo State, Mrs. Obaseki and the Commissioner for Youth and Gender Affairs, Mr. Andrew Adaze Emwanta who led an ambulance and Medics from the government house to the Ugbowo Police station to take him for treatment.
The Commissioner for Youth and Gender Affairs disclosed that the attention of the Gender Based Violence Committee led by the first lady of Edo State was drawn by a member of the committee who reported the matter to the police and arrangements was immediately made with an ambulance with life support to quickly stabilize the victim.
While thanking the Police officers for their swift action said it was wrong for a physically challenged person to be treated in that manner, noting that since he has made entry in the police station the government will want the Police to charge the culprits to court.
“You do not treat a dog like that. You cannot keep even a dog for that length of time without food. We want to take him for medical checkup. A man that is physically challenged should not be treated in that manner,” the Commissioner noted
At the Oredo Health Centre, Dr. Ohonba Humphery who attended to the victim after he was given food by the Commissioner said he would be referred to Edo Hospital and when he regained strength, he narrated his ordeal in the hands of his family members.