The Family Empowerment and Youth Reorientation Path-initiative FEYReP said it has facilitated the arrest of seven men for alleged rape and defilement of their daughters in Akwa Ibom.
The founder of the organisation, Dr. Martha Emmanuel who is the wife of Akwa Ibom State Governor disclosed this in Uyo last weekend during an interaction with newsmen.
Emmanuel who expressed worry over the disturbing instances of sodomy in the State said her organisation would ensure that the perpetrators are convicted fast.
She added that FEYRep is in partnership with the Judiciary, Police and FIDA saying that she has mandated her staff to post on the internet the identities of rape convicts in the State for ‘shaming purpose’ inorder to deter intending rapists from the act.
According to her, “as I speak we have about seven fathers in police cell awaiting trial for defiling their daughters. These issues trouble my heart a lot and I can assure you that Justice must be done.
“FEYReP is in Partnership with the Judiciary, Police, FIDA. You see? Perpetrators cannot go scot-free. Anytime the cases that involve us would be tried in the court, we must be present. That is to tell you how serious it is. The judge will also know that we are very serious about these.”
It could be recalled that the State Violence Against Persons Prohibition(VAPP) Law 2020 has stipulated 21 years imprisonment for rape culprits.
On that premise,the governor’s wife also told journalists that her pet project has secured the conviction of 10 rape culprits for the past six months.
According to her, “I can say authoritatively that in the last six months, and with the help of all involved (Judiciary, Police and FIDA), we have secured conviction of ten culprits of rape and other gender based violence in the state.”
On what spurred her into the campaign against GBV, she said, “most of the victims are vulnerable children, poor women, who do not have a voice. I am happy to lend my voice, to be their voice. To speak for them any day and anytime.
“What would a 60 year old man be looking for in a two or three year old infant? Is that not devilish? We can’t condone such an abnormal behaviour in our society.”
Speaking on other areas of her intervention, the First Lady remarked that she has in the last six years in office as the governor’s wife, placed premium on the family component of the society, stating that it remains the bedrock of a functional society.
She said, “we believe that if we get it right at the foundational level, the society would have been better off. This is why we have invested so much in many Akwa Ibom families. All the programmes at FEYReP are towards projecting a successful family Unit.”
On funding of her projects and the sustainability of FEYReP after office in 2023, she said “We get our funding from good spirited individuals and organisations. They see what we do and trust in us to always deliver. I’ve always said that FEYReP will outlive this administration.”
