The Rivers State Police Command has invited the Chairman of Ahoada West Local Government Area, Eugene Epelle, over an alleged assault on Minnie Ogadinma, who recorded a video of a dilapidated school building.

The command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this to our correspondent on Friday.

The command also invited Ogadinma for her statement, since the alleged assault that occurred on Sunday was never formally reported to the police but became known on social media.

Iringe-Koko said the Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, had directed the Divisional Police Officer of the area to invite both the LG chairman and Ogadinma for questioning.

She stated, “We are aware of the incident, but the girl has not made any report to the police. However, the CP has directed that the two parties—the lady and the council chairman—should be invited for questioning to ascertain the true situation. After that, appropriate actions will be taken.”

The police action comes on the heels of calls by human rights activist, Chetam Nwala, and the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, urging the commissioner of police to investigate the alleged assault.

Ogadinma had, in a viral video on Monday, alleged that the LG chairman led his younger brother, Monday Cheta, and an aide to her father’s house and ordered the brother to beat her.

The girl, from Odiokwu Community in Ahoada West, said her ordeal started after she photographed and recorded a video of the dilapidated school in the community.

She explained that her intention was to seek government intervention for the renovation of the school, not to embarrass anyone.

Ogadinma said, “I visited my community secondary school in Odiokwu; when I got there, I saw how bad the school was, so I made a video calling for help. I tagged ‘Very Dark Man’ asking him to help renovate the school. The school has no roof.

“The school is just like an empty space, and the students don’t have chairs to sit on. They don’t have toilets in that school; that was what made me do that video. After I made that post, the local government chairman and his brother, one security aide and his driver, came to my house around 1pm.

“My mum and I were seated in front of our house. He (the chairman) approached my mum and told her that he was there to report me. While he was talking, his younger brother came down from the vehicle, and the chairman instructed him to deal with me, which he did.

“I ran into my compound, but he pushed the gate, broke our rubber and chased me to the front of our building. The brother hit me on the face, on my lips. He even held me by the neck, choking me. The chairman ordered that I should be attacked at our house because he knew very well that I am being raised by a single mother. My dad is late.”

She added, “He said if he kills me, nobody will challenge him in my family. I want the chairman of Ahoada West, Mr Eugene Epelle, to face the consequences of what he has done, the damage he caused us. My mother and I have not been able to have a good night’s sleep; we are living in fear because he said he was going to kill me.”

Reacting to the incident, Nwala condemned the alleged harassment and intimidation of the girl by the council boss.

Speaking on a radio programme on Wednesday monitored by our correspondent in Port Harcourt, Nwala said the alleged assault was “disappointing and unacceptable in a democratic society.

“We are calling on the Commissioner of Police to immediately investigate and prosecute the Ahoada West LGA chairman to serve as a deterrent to others.

“We cannot continue to have people supervising the beating of women in positions of leadership. Political office holders should know that if you do not want to be criticised, don’t hold public or government offices. You cannot use thugs to intimidate, beat, or threaten those who criticise you. This is one too many.”

The National Legal Adviser of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Henry Ekene, described the attack as disturbing, unfortunate, and unbecoming of a public official.

Ekene, speaking on the same radio programme, said the action of the lady, which drew attention to the poor state of a community school, did not justify any physical assault by the council chairman.

He said, “Citizen participation in governance continues even after elections. This includes checking government activities and reporting gaps for appropriate intervention.

“Citizens should be able to point out areas where government attention is needed without fear. Responsible citizens will highlight gaps, and responsible governments will take action to fix the challenges.”

Ekene noted that the incident suggests a lack of understanding of governance and public service.

“The chairman should be aware that the Community Secondary School, Odiokwu, is not the only public secondary school in poor condition, crying for attention from his administration and the state government,” he added.

In his reaction, the LG chairman, through his Chief Press Secretary Dennis Ezeuwa, described the allegation as false and misleading.

The chairman said his visit to Ogadinma’s residence was peaceful and that he did not lead anyone to assault her.

The statement reads, “The attention of the Office of the Executive Chairman of Ahoada West Local Government Area, Eugene Chita Epelle, has been drawn to a misleading and sensational allegation circulating online, claiming that the chairman led an attack on a young lady, Minnie Ogadinma, who is a Media Aide to the chairman, and by implication under the payroll of the council, from Odiokwu community over her comments regarding the condition of Community Secondary School, Odiokwu.

“We categorically state that this allegation is false, malicious, and deliberately distorted to incite public anger and damage the reputation of the chairman.

“For the sake of clarity, the chairman did not at any time lead anyone—whether brothers, associates, or security personnel—to assault, bully, or intimidate the accuser. The chairman visited the residence of the accuser’s mother strictly for a peaceful and mature engagement.

“During discussion, the young lady reportedly approached the chairman unprovoked, hurled insults at him, and used unprintable names. Despite this provocation, the chairman maintained composure and continued his discussion calmly with her mother.

“Moments later, the accuser again moved aggressively toward the chairman while continuing her verbal attack. A passer-by intervened to prevent escalation. In the process of being restrained, she reportedly lost balance, fell, and sustained minor injury.

“At no point did the chairman engage in any physical confrontation. He neither touched nor instructed anyone to touch her. We challenge the accuser and those amplifying this narrative to present credible evidence—video footage, photographs, or verifiable material showing the chairman leading or participating in any assault as alleged.”