NHRC, NGOs Protest Alarming Rate of Rape Cases

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Worried by the increasing cases of rape in the country, Kogi State Coordinator, National Human Right Commission (NHRC), Barr Nuhu Musa Mohammed has called for the immediate persecutions of all offenders.

NHRC in a protest on Wednesday in Lokoja, described the spate of reported rape cases in the country as worrisome, stressing that if not addressed the society is heading for doom.

Mohammed who led his team with some non governmental organizations including Kogi Non Governmental Organization (KONGONET), Initiative for Grassroot Advancement (INGRA), Participation Initiative for Behavioural Change in Development (PIBCID), Challenge Parenthood Initiative (CPI) among others to the Kogi State Police Command, Ministry of Women Affairs, Governor’s Wife office, Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Information were spotted with placard condemning rape in its entity.

Barrister Mohammed who described rape as a societal menace which should be condemned by all and sundry noted that the protest is been carried across the 36 state of the federation including the federal capital territory.

At the police headquarter, Barrister Mohammed said the agency is ready to collaborate with the Nigerian Police to nip the menace of rape in the society in the bud.

Responding, the Kogi State Commissioner of Police, CP Ayuba Edeh told the protesters that, the police in the last few months had received 717 reported rape cases nationwide.

The CP who also hinted that their are many case files on his table bothering on rape said each case will be treated on merits and not with kid gloves.

He said the command under his watch had prosecuted many rape offenders as many are currently cooling off in jail.

CP Edeh vowed that no rapist will go unpunished as he promised continuous collaboration between the Nigerian Police, NHRC, and NGOs to see that rape is reduced to its barest minimum.

The team moved their protest to the ministry of women affair as they were received by the Director Admin and Finance Ekele Joseph Eneyon on behalf of the commissioner.

Addressing the protesters, Mr Eneyon lamented that though the ministry had received three reported cases of rape in the state in 2020, many rape victims are afraid to tell their story over fear of stigmatization.

He averred that rape is now becoming a pandemic like corona virus.

At the office of the wife of the Kogi State Governor, Mrs Rashidat Bello called for collaborative efforts from all and sundry to see that the war against rape is won in the country.

Mrs  Bello noted that, rape is a far departure of our religious practices in Nigeria.

The Senior Special Assistant to wife of the governor on administration, Victor Okee, who received the protesters on behalf of the first lady said religious leaders, government, lawmaker must play their roles to see that those carrying out this act is brought to book.

The Governors Wife however called for a stiffer legislation that would help reduce rape frowning that, victims of rape should not be stigmatized by the society but rather encouraged to speak up when they fall victims of this act. 

She assured that her office will be open for all as the state government is fully committed to see that any individuals involved in rape no matter how connected or wealthy will be meant to face the wrath of the law.

The story wasn’t different when the protesters matched to the Ministry of Justice as they were told by the Permanent Secretary, Barrister Hawa Yusuf that the Ministry is also worried on the alarming rape cases in the country adding that, the ministry have also succeeded in persecuting many rape offenders in Kogi State.

Lending their voices, the Kogi State Chairman KONGONET, Mr Idris Ozovehe and the Executive Director CPI, Eunice Agbogun both stressed on the need for synergy between the various ministry and NGOs to put an end to rape in the country.

They also called for the quick passage of the ‘Stop Violence Against Women’ Bill which has passed second reading in the Kogi State House of Assembly but was put on hold due to the corona virus pandemic ravaging the world. 

If passed, they maintained, the bill will help to check all the unlawful acts against women and girls child including rape.


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