Woman in hospital after being gang-raped while herding goats in Mandera
Mrs Halima Mohamed, the aunt to a woman who was gang raped by armed men as she looked after family goats in Mandera sits beside her in hospital on May 19, 2015. Mrs Mohamed said since morning her niece had not been attended to but police recorded a statement in the afternoon. PHOTO | MANASE OTSIALO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The incident happened Monday night as the woman looked after family goats in the grazing fields.
- The woman lost several teeth and, according to her father, she was beaten up as she tried to free herself.
- Mr Mohamed Abdille, the doctor in-charge of the hospital confirmed that the patient had been received Tuesday morning.
- Mrs Ubah Abdi, the Mandera Maendeleo ya Wanawake Organisation (MYWO) chairlady, decried the increased cases of rape in the county.
A twenty-year-old woman is admitted to the Mandera County Referral Hospital after she was attacked and raped by armed men at night as she looked after family goats in the grazing fields.
Speaking at the hospital, her father, Mr Ahmed Daw, said he left his daughter with other women looking after the goats on Monday evening as he went home to check on his family.
On returning Tuesday morning, he found his daughter paralysed.
“I left my daughter with other girls and women yesterday evening looking after goats at Garbagole grazing fields only to return this morning to find this bad news,” said Mr Daw.
He said the other women told him that four men armed with guns robbed the group of their money and tied up his daughter and raped her in turns rendering her immobile,” said Mr Daw.
The woman lost several teeth and, according to her father, she was beaten up as she tried to free herself.
On Monday, Mandera County Commissioner Alex ole Nkoyo confirmed to Nation.co.ke that several armed men had been seen by herdsmen at Sala Village along the Mandera-Rhamu-Elwak road.
Later, police found a place where the men had spent the night leaving behind a goat skin and burning fire.
ENHANCED SECURITY PATROLS
“We are getting reports that the militants are moving into the interior of Mandera from the notorious Omar Jillo and already we have enhanced security patrols in those areas.
“However, the aerial surveillance is hindered by the green vegetation as the militants dressed in jungle jackets hide in trees,” said Mr Nkoyo.
Mr Mohamed Abdille, the doctor in-charge of the hospital confirmed that the patient had been received Tuesday morning and that the process of attending to her was underway.
“We have just called in the doctor on duty to further examine the patient and once the report is out, we shall be able to confirm the alleged rape case,” said Mr Abdille.
Mrs Ubah Abdi, the Mandera Maendeleo ya Wanawake Organization (MYWO) chairlady, decried the increased cases of rape in the county as she called on the National Government to act fast to safeguard girls and women in the county.
“We are having many cases of women being assaulted by men as the government watches.
“We are calling upon the government to act now and save our young women,” said Mrs Abdi.
