Barakat and Omozuwa
Following the murder of Uwa Omozuwa, a 22-year-old student of the University of Benin on Saturday, May 30, and Barakat Bello, a 19-year of student in Ibadan on June 2, the Special Assistant to the Speaker of Federal House of Representatives on NGO and Civil Society Matters, Mrs Fatima Ganduje-Ajimobi has demanded for justice for the deceased.
Omozuwa was said to be in a church auditorium when some men attacked her, raped her, hit her head with a fire extinguisher cylinder and left her dead, while Barakat was raped and killed at her family compound by yet to be identified assailants.
Miffed by these developments, Mrs Fatima Ganduje-Ajimobi, in a radio telephone interview with Breakfast Jam on inspiration fm 92.3 on Tuesday, said the rising spate of sexual violence in Nigeria was becoming alarming because most cases of sexual violence are not properly investigated and prosecuted.
She said Civil Societies needs to do more in terms of advocacy for rape victims and NGOs needs to assist government in setting up more rehabilitation centers for rape victims.
Fatima Ganduje-Ajimobi said: “It’s so disheartening and I condemn it on all grounds, there is an urgent need for us to strengthen our laws to ensure maximum punishment for rapist and I hope justice will be served for the perpetrators of this evil act.”
“On this note, I call on the Nigeria Police Force to immediately take a prompt action on the need to end rape culture in Nigeria and I also demand that the rapist-killers of Omozuwa be immediately brought to book in order, to serve as a deterrent to other rapists that are still lurking around and a template of justice for rape victims.
” The human rights advocate used the medium to charge NGOs to rise to the challenge of child abuse in the country, adding that: “There is a need for non-governmental organisations to start orientating young boys and men that rape is as grievous as murder. We call on other NGOs to join us in this fight against rape and child abuse.”
She equally urged NGOs and Civil Societies in the country to step up in this period especially with the Covid-19 pandemic ravaging the country as they play a vital role in Nation building. “Our goal is to collaborate with NGOs and CSOs to reduce drastically sexual abuse in the country. We are fighting for stricter laws and regulations.”
“Thousands of people are being abused annually with so many cases not being reported by the victims,” she stated. She also mentioned that part of her key mandate as special assistant is to key into the mantra of the Speaker Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila of “Nation Building; A Joint Task Force” to push for reforms and legislations that will further equip, sanitize and strengthen our NGOs and Civil Society Organisations.
