Women Group Plans Protest Over Kidnap, Rape
3 min read
Edith CHUKU
Worried by the high rate of kidnapping and rape in various parts of the country, leaders of women groups in Nigeria have expressed readiness to adapt available measures that will aid the fight against all forms of gender based violence against women.
According to them, the rate at which women are sexually assaulted, kidnapped and used for ritual purposes is alarming, and calls for immediate actions from relevant agencies.
Speaking with TNN in Port Harcourt, the chairperson, Association of Unique Women, Dr. Mrs. Cynthia U. Agidi said “the incessant cases of women been raped, kidnapped, molested, killed for ritual is indeed alarming, it’s increasing daily, every day has its own bad, ugly story and we are tired of it.
“We want actions, result, these inhuman inflicted evil perpetrated against women should not be treated like every other case, it’s worrisome why it appears that women are serious target, young girls, innocent daughters are victimized, why, what is happening? We are asking, who have we offended, is it a crime to be a woman, why does it appear worse in Nigeria?
“21-year old raped and killed in Akwa Ibom, sensitive parts of girls discovered in Lagos, Cross River, kidnap in Enugu etc. This is madness, it’s same, and even worse in the north, and all we are asking is, what crime have we committed, who did we offend by being women, did we create ourselves? No pity, no conscience.
“These victims are people’s daughters, some are mothers, wives, sisters. Enough is enough, we are not implying that it should be completely eradicated, but if that becomes the case, better, we are saying that a month should at least pass, two months, three, without us watching a widow cry over her missing daughter, parents wailing over murdered daughters, house helps raped by madam’s husband, some of these girls are even breadwinners, this is disheartening.
“It is high time we take to the street, police stations, government offices, schools, churches, everywhere possible to tell them, tell Nigerians to wake up, we have had enough. I read on social media that gunmen ambushed a vehicle going to Imo State from Port Harcourt, took all the ladies into the bush, rapped them and released them.
“We are discussing with other women organization, there is need for us to come together and take actions, it could be anyone’s daughter. We need a society free of these violence against women, and men too.
Also speaking, the chairperson, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, Rivers State Chapter, Mrs. Susan Serekara-Nwikhana has commended the Rivers State Police Command for the arrest of five alleged kidnappers, accused of abducting females and subjecting them to rigorous sexual intercourse unlawfully.
Serekara-Nwikhana stated this shortly after the police paraded the suspects in Port Harcourt last weekend.
According to her, “I want to appreciate the Rivers State police command for their efforts, we are indeed grateful. It is true that gender based violence against women is common all over the world, but it is necessary that we tackle it in every way possible from our own corners.
“On daily basis, girls are being assaulted, raped, kidnapped, and even sold, infants are not spared, it is necessary we speak out without fear, shame nor favour. Let’s educate the male child the way we do to the girls, don’t spare the boys and discipline the girls, because those victimizing these girls are boys from different homes.
“Let it be preached in churches, taught in schools, emphasized in our homes, that rape, kidnapping, gender based violence is evil.
She further appealed to security agencies that, “more needs to be done to apprehend these perpetrators, thorough investigation should please be carried out to uncover hideouts, anyone found guilty must face the full wrath of the law, women are suffering a lot in this society, it feels so unsafe.
