From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Rashida Bello
The Wife of the Kogi state Governor, Rashida Bello has condemned the alarming rate of rape of girls in recent times across the country, with a promise to join in the fight against the menace.
The Governor’s Wife gave the assurance when a delegation of Kogi State Branch of National Human Rights Commission carried their campaign train on the “War Against Rape” to her office in Lokoja on Tuesday.
Rashida Bello also promised to do all within her powers in the protection of women and children rights in the state.
The First Lady who was represented by her Senior Special Assistant on Administration, Victor Okee commended the initiatives of the Human Rights Commission for embarking on the protest against denial of children of their rights in the society.
She affirmed that governments at all level, religious leaders and other relevant stakeholders in the country have serious roles to play in strengthening the existing laws against rape and protection of women and children rights.
According to the governor’s wife “rape has no place in our society hence the need for all hands to be on deck in creating awareness on the rights of our children and the need to protect them at all times” .
She warned against stigmatization of victims of rape in the society but should rather endeavor to give them motivation and encouragement as they narrate their ordeals.
“I will not hesitate to give financial assistance to parents of rape victims in prosecuting rape cases in courts to ensure that justice is obtained” the governor’s wife further assured.
Earlier, the state coordinator of the National Human Rights Commission, Nuhu Mohammed had informed the governor’s wife that most of the rape cases before the police had been withdrawn due to lack of funds by the parents of the victims to prosecute the matters in court.
He therefore called on the Governor’s Wife and Ministry of Women Affairs to render financial support to these poor parents to enable them pursue cases of their children to a logical conclusion.
