The African Action Congress (AAC) has called for immediate justice following the brutal assault of a 20-year-old deaf girl, Margret Joshua, in Tula Baule Yakku, Kaltungo Local Government Area of Gombe State.
Margret was reportedly attacked on May 27 while washing clothes by the riverside.
Her alleged assailant, Abubakar Lamido, is said to have attempted to rape her.
When she resisted, Lamido allegedly beat her severely, resulting in internal injuries that required emergency surgery.
In an interview with Arewa PUNCH, AAC Chairman in Gombe State, Comrade Bobo Benson-Bagwiba, condemned the incident, describing it as a “tragic case of gender-based violence” and a painful reflection of the risks faced by people with disabilities in rural communities.
“Margret’s ordeal is unacceptable,” Benson-Bagwiba said. “Justice must be swift, transparent, and uncompromising.”
Margret’s family reported the assault to the Tula Division of the Nigeria Police Force.
Although Lamido was questioned, he denied the allegations, claiming he only held her hand. However, medical reports from Bambam Cottage Hospital and Kaltungo General Hospital confirmed internal bleeding, prompting immediate surgical intervention.
The AAC strongly condemned the alleged assault and issued a set of demands, including:
The immediate arrest and prosecution of the suspect,
Full financial coverage for Margret’s medical treatment,
Protection for her family, who are reportedly facing harassment and intimidation.
“We are troubled by reports of intimidation directed at Margret’s family,” Benson-Bagwiba added. “This goes beyond one victim.
It’s about a system that consistently fails to protect vulnerable people.”
The party urged the Divisional Police Officer of the Tula Division, Gombe State Commissioner of Police Yahaya Bello, the Department of State Services, and other relevant authorities to act swiftly.
“Justice must not only be done – it must be seen to be done,” he emphasized.
The AAC also appealed to the Gombe State Government, the National Human Rights Commission, civil society organizations, disability rights advocates, the media, and the general public to unite in support of Margret and push for reforms that safeguard the rights of women and persons with disabilities.
“This is not just a demand for justice,” the party said in a statement, “but a call for systemic change to end the culture of impunity surrounding gender-based violence—especially against women and girls living with disabilities.”
The AAC pledged to provide legal support to Margret’s family and assist in her full recovery, both physically and emotionally.