The Chairman of Ahoada West Local Government Area in Rivers State, Hon. Eugene Cheta Epelle, has denied allegations that he led a group of thugs to assault a young woman, Winnie Miller, after she posted a video online highlighting the poor condition of a secondary school in the area.
The controversy began after Miller held a press conference on Wednesday, March 4, where she accused the local government chairman of orchestrating an attack on her in retaliation for the video she posted on social media. In the video, Miller reportedly showcased the dilapidated state of a secondary school within the local government area, drawing attention to what she described as the deplorable learning environment faced by students.
According to Miller, the video angered the council chairman, who allegedly visited her residence with several individuals and physically assaulted her. She claimed the attack was carried out to intimidate her and discourage her from speaking out about the state of public infrastructure in the community.
However, in response to the accusations, Epelle has strongly rejected the claims, insisting that he neither led thugs to Miller’s residence nor sanctioned any form of assault against her.
Speaking in a statement addressing the matter, the chairman explained that the individuals who accompanied him during the visit were not thugs, as alleged, but rather people known to him personally, including his driver, his younger brother, and some leaders within the local government council.
“I never led thugs to her house,” Epelle said while reacting to the allegations. “The people they are calling thugs were myself, my driver, my younger brother and some leaders of the council.”
He further explained that the encounter with Miller and her family occurred coincidentally while he was driving through the area.
According to the chairman, he was on his way to another destination when he saw Miller’s mother standing in front of their family house. He said the woman waved at him, prompting him to stop because of their longstanding personal relationship.
Epelle noted that he and Miller’s mother had known each other since childhood and maintained a friendly relationship over the years.
“We were driving towards her house when I coincidentally saw her mother in front of their house. She waved at me and I stopped because we knew each other from childhood. We are close friends,” he explained.
During their brief interaction, Epelle said Miller’s mother informed him that she had recently been involved in an accident. He stated that he expressed sympathy for her situation and told her she could have contacted him if she needed assistance.
“She told me she had an accident and I sympathised with her, saying she should have called me so I could help them,” he added.
The chairman said the conversation later shifted to Miller’s social media post about the deteriorating condition of the secondary school.
According to him, Miller serves as one of his aides and remains on the payroll of the local government council. He said he therefore asked her mother to advise her daughter to take down the video to avoid creating the impression that he was working against the Rivers State Government.
Epelle explained that his concern was not about the issue raised in the video but about the potential political interpretation of the post.
“I told her to tell her daughter, who is my aide and is still on my payroll, to remove the post online so it would not appear as though I am against the Rivers State Government or that I asked her to post something that would criticise the government,” he said.
He insisted that he did not oppose Miller’s attempt to draw attention to the condition of the school but felt that she should have informed him before making the issue public.
“I’m not against her post, but she should have taken permission from me before posting such a thing,” the chairman said.
Epelle further narrated that the situation escalated shortly after Miller came out of the house during his discussion with her mother.
According to him, Miller reacted angrily when she heard about the request to remove the video from social media.
“When she came out of her compound, she said, ‘Step down which post? Did I give her money to buy a phone that I will tell her to delete a post?’” Epelle recalled.
He said the confrontation created tension at the scene, especially because some members of his entourage were present at the time.
Epelle acknowledged that during the heated exchange, his younger brother pushed Miller, an action that he said resulted in her sustaining an injury.
However, he stressed that the incident did not amount to a coordinated attack or beating, as had been alleged.
“My younger brother, who was present when she spoke to me in that manner, pushed her and in the process she sustained an injury,” Epelle said.
He maintained that he did not endorse his brother’s action and emphasised that he never encouraged any form of physical confrontation.
The chairman also insisted that the situation had been misrepresented in the public narrative, adding that no group of thugs was involved in the encounter.
“Nobody beat her,” he stated firmly.
The allegations and the chairman’s response have since sparked widespread reactions on social media and within civic circles, with many calling for an independent investigation into the incident.
Some observers have argued that the controversy highlights broader concerns about freedom of expression and the treatment of citizens who raise issues about public infrastructure and governance.
Others have called for calm and urged relevant authorities to establish the facts surrounding the incident.
The situation also raises questions about the state of public school infrastructure in parts of Rivers State, particularly in rural communities where residents say many schools suffer from neglect and inadequate funding.
While the dispute between the council chairman and Miller continues to attract public attention, many residents say the underlying issue raised by the viral video—the condition of educational facilities—should not be ignored.
As the debate continues, stakeholders have urged both parties to allow due process to take its course while focusing attention on improving the welfare of students and communities affected by deteriorating public infrastructure.
