Woman appeals to Buhari, Sanwo-Olu over assault by German

A 44-year-old woman, Marcus Victoria, allegedly assaulted and threatened by her German neighbour, Mr. Knoop Jens, at an estate in Apapa area of Lagos (name withheld) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Lagos state Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to come to her rescue.

According to the mother of two, trouble for her started in December 16, 2018, when the German expatriate and his mistress from the Republic of Benin, Ehehiye Marayah, attacked her over a harmless comment and stabbed her on her left palm. 

Although, the matter which was first reported at the Trinity Police Station, and transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yaba, is now in court, Victoria said Jens and Marayah have continued to assault her verbally and physically ceaselessly.

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The Cross – River born woman said the most recent of the attacks was on June 5, when Jens, Marayah and their accomplice, yet-to-be identified, ran into her at a bar within the estate. 

She claimed that the trio rained insults on her, smashed her phone, physically assaulted and almost strangled her, but for her husband and the security men who came to her rescue.   

Victoria said Marayah even told her she was lucky to be alive as her boyfriend only missed stabbing her on the stomach by whisker, warning her that she may not be so lucky next time.

The frightened woman said she wants both the federal and the state governments to step into the matter as she now lives in fear in her own country.

While alleging that the duo now frequent her house, hiding by her fence to rain insults on her, Victoria said Jens and Marayah pose a threat to her life and that of her family. 

Narrating her ordeal in the hands of the foreigners, Victoria, who is also, married to an expatriate and still recuperating from the attack, said she needs urgent help.

She said that “My husband is an expatriate, who works with a company in Nigeria. We have been married for 15 years and we live at an estate in Apapa, designated for staff of the company. 

“My travail started in December 16, 2018, when I went to the estate restaurant to have a plate of pepper-soup. I and a few neighbours met and were having a conversation.

“One of us complained about the fact that people contribute money for picnics, yet, when they get there, they don’t get food to eat. I called the attention of Jens’ lover to the matter because the picnics often held at their beach house. She flared-up and started ranting. 

“Jens, who was not too far from the table where we sat, came close and on hearing the matter became violent. He picked a bottle, broke it and was heading towards me, but the people there stopped him. He picked another and they stopped him again. People pleaded with him to be calm and let the matter pass. 

“He acted as though all was well and walked to the table where I sat to also take a seat. But, I was shocked when he got to the table; he picked a bottle, broke it and was aiming for me. I wanted to run, but fell.

“He rushed at me and wanted to stab me in the abdomen, but I covered my abdomen with my left hand and he stabbed me on my palm. He wanted to grab my neck, but a neighbour rescued me. 

“The stab wound affected the nerves in that hand and till date the hand is numb, shrinking and I have lost usage of the hand. I reported the case at the Trinity Police Station. Three months into the investigation of the matter, Jens sent people to me to ask how much I wanted; he never came to say he was sorry for what he did.

“So, I refused his financial compensation because I wanted justice. I know a Nigerian cannot go to his country and do same. He even met me on one occasion and boasted that if I decide to go to court, the case will remain in court for seven years and that I was only wasting my time because seeking justice in Nigeria is an effort in futility.

“He practically made mockery of our judiciary. Jens also did a petition to the State Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Lagos state Police Command, alleging that I was the one that sent a four-man gang to attack him, just to victimise me.

“But fortunately, the case at was transferred to the SCID and upon the advice of the directorate of public prosecution, the case was charged to court in August 2019.”