Rivers State LG Chairperson Eugene Chita Epelle Accused of Battering Teenage Girl

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Summary: The Chairperson of Ahoada West Local Council, in Rivers state, Eugene Epelle Cheta, has reportedly assaulted Winnie Miller, a teenage resident of Oduk community, following the videos and pictures she posted online to expose the poor condition of the only secondary school in Odiokwu community.

The Chairperson of Ahoada West Local Council, in Rivers state, Eugene Epelle Cheta, has reportedly assaulted Winnie Miller (Ogadima), a teenage resident of Oduk community, following the videos and pictures she posted online to expose the poor condition of the only secondary school in Odiokwu community.

In the video the teenager posted online, the affected school, Community Secondary School, also referred to as Ubie Community Secondary School, is located in the Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State. The posted video showed dilapidated structures, including crumbling walls, leaking roofs, and inadequate chairs and tables. The classrooms were also crowded. There were also reports of a teacher shortage and an unsafe learning environment. 

Narrating her ordeal at the hands of Eugene, Winner said the incident happened after she returned from church around noon. 

“The chairman, Eugene Chita Epelle, who is the Executive Chairman of Ahoada West LGA, came to my house on Sunday around 12 noon after church service. He came to my house and confronted my mother, telling her that I wanted to damage his image online. He said I made a post about the secondary school in Oduk and that the video had made him receive calls from several persons, claiming that I had insulted his office.”

She explained that the council chairperson’s younger brother, Monday Chita Epelle, did the beating as instructed while he watched. 

“He instructed his brother, Monday Chita Epelle, to beat me and teach me a lesson. During that act, Monday Chita pushed my gate open, entered my compound, and started beating me. If not for the intervention of my neighbours in the community, he would have succeeded in killing me, just as he said,” she narrated.

She further stated that the attack escalated to the point where her life was in danger, while her mother sustained injuries when she was pushed during the assault.

“He strangled my neck. I still have neck injuries up to now. He even picked up a shovel and wanted to use it on my head. A passerby, Godstime Kakoro, can also be interviewed. He was the one who dragged the shovel away from Monday Chita to prevent him from hitting me on the head,” she recounted.