A woman gang raped at 12 urges a government inquiry into Oldham’s abuse cases while criticizing far-right groups for exploiting the issue
Oldham: A woman named Samantha Walker-Roberts, who was gang raped at just 12, is pushing for a government inquiry into child sexual abuse in her town. She’s not just looking for justice; she wants to make sure the voices of survivors are heard. Samantha has bravely shared her story, calling out the far-right for trying to take over the conversation.
Back in 2006, she was attacked in Chadderton, and while one of her attackers was jailed, three others were never caught. Now, at 31, she’s asking Prime Minister Keir Starmer to step in after a request for a national inquiry was turned down. Instead, the government suggested a local review, which she fears won’t hold anyone accountable.
“We want justice and we want our voices to be heard,” she told The Independent. The backlash from the government’s decision has been intense, especially with figures like Elon Musk weighing in on social media, criticizing the handling of the situation.
While the Tories are pushing for a national inquiry, Samantha believes a local one won’t cut it. She’s worried that Oldham will get overlooked in a broader investigation. She wants a government-led inquiry that focuses specifically on her town’s issues.
She’s also frustrated with far-right groups, like those led by Tommy Robinson, who she feels misrepresent the problem. “It’s not about race,” she insists, pointing out that her abuser was from Bangladesh, not Pakistan. She wants the focus to be on the survivors, not on political agendas.
Samantha hopes that a government review will lead to real accountability for the police and local officials who failed her and others. Greater Manchester Police have acknowledged their shortcomings and are working on investigations into past cases of child sexual exploitation.
She’s calling for survivors to be involved in every step of the inquiry process, ensuring their needs and voices are prioritized. Meanwhile, local leaders are promising to take the issue seriously and are working on setting up a local inquiry similar to one done in Telford.
As the conversation continues, Samantha remains hopeful that this will lead to meaningful change and better protection for children in Oldham.
