The Edo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development through its Sexual Assault Referral Centre, SARC, has intervened in the case of a woman allegedly assaulted, stripped naked and filmed by a crowd in Auchi, Edo State

In a statement, the Ministry said it has facilitated medical, psychological and counselling support for the survivor as investigations into the September 3 incident continue.

According to the Ministry, police and social welfare officials on Wednesday returned to the scene of the incident with the woman and Mr. Constantine Ogbofeni a POS operator currently in police custody.

The visit was to identify persons captured in videos of the alleged assault and to determine whether further arrests should be made.

The Ministry reiterated its commitment to ensuring justice for the survivor and to ending all forms of gender-based violence in the state.

Three persons, Ogbofeni, his sister-in-law, Kehinde Alabi, and her husband, Patrick Adams, were earlier arrested in connection with the incident.

The alleged assault reportedly followed a dispute over suspected fraudulent transactions involving an OPay account operated at the POS stand.

Ogbofeni claimed the woman used the account to receive money from customers for hair products, but concerns arose after some customers allegedly complained that they had not received the products. He said the confrontation subsequently escalated after he sought assistance from his in-laws.

The woman denied any involvement in fraud, saying she was a trader in clothes, shoes and hair products. She alleged that she was pressured to refund money and was subsequently attacked when she returned to the POS stand.

The Edo State Ministry, through SARC, has continued to provide the survivor with the necessary support while working with relevant authorities to ensure her protection and access to appropriate services.

The police investigation is ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and identify other persons who may have participated in the alleged assault.