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Tag: Rape

44 year Old Man Rape A Crippled Minor in Adamawa.
By Musa Isa Ahmed
The Adamawa State Police Command has arrested 44 years old man for raping a crippled minor in Gombi local government area.
The press release Thursday, issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Suleiman Yahya Nguroje, revealed that “the command has on Wednesday, 22nd July, 2020 arrested one Ezekiel Mahai, 44 years old resident of Prakwanta village, Gombi Local government area of Adamawa state, for raping an underage crippled girl.
“The suspected rapist, prior to his arrest, observed the absent of the survivor’s mother before launching assault against her.
“The survivor is now undergoing medical screenings, while the suspect is taken into custody for investigation and prosecution.
“The command is hereby calling on members of the general public to key into fight against sexual assault on women and children. Parents and guardians should also closely monitor their wards.
“The command further assures its commitment to protecting lives and properties and calls on people to continue reporting to police any suspicious movement around them.”
July 23, 2020
We must all rise against rape – Gbajabiamila
…says Nigerians need more education, awareness on rape
… advocates stiffer penalties for rapists
The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila has said that both the leaders and the citizens in the country must rise against rape.
Gbajabiamila, who described the incidence of rape in the country as a pandemic, said every stratum of the society, including the media, has a role to play in the fight against the pandemic.
Speaking when he granted audience to a delegation of the Movement Against Rape and Sexual Violence (MARS-V) led by the wife of Kaduna State governor, Hajiya Aisha Ummi el-Rufai, at the National Assembly on Wednesday, the Speaker said the statistics on rape cases in Nigeria “is mind-boggling.”
He said Nigerians, especially those that hold religious views on rape, need adequate education and awareness against the rape pandemic.
“Whilst I see so many women here with you, this is a fight not just for women. I can see some few men too, but this is a fight for all. Let a subliminal message be sent that even though over 95 per cent of the victims are women, let it be that it’s we, the men, that are championing your course.
“The statistics are very alarming on the issue of rape. You hear figures in terms of rape and gender-based violence that are mind-boggling. It’s only a deprived mind that can engage in rape. I consider the issue of rape as a pandemic. In my estimation, it’s a pandemic.
“The issue of rape should be treated the way Corona is treated. How do we treat a pandemic? There has to be a frontal onslaught. The media has a role to play. It should be in the front line. There’s a lot of work to be done from different angles.
“In a pandemic, you look for cure. No sane man would have sexual intercourse with a 3-month old baby. The idea alone is sickening,” Gbajabiamila said.
The Speaker also said the Nigerian laws related to rape are weak, hence they would not deter people from engaging in the act, calling for stiffer penalties for offenders.
“As Muslims, we should educate our people that religion is about perception, but there can only be one truth. It’s all about education and awareness. We’ll continue to push hard. We’ll bring in our scholars so that we all can be enlightened for the sake of humanity.
“Some of our laws on rape are old and need review, like many of our laws. Some of the penalties need to be stiffer. The penalties need to deter, but they can’t deter because they’re weak. We need to look at all these things holistically.”
Gbajabiamila also said he believed a lot of rape cases are not reported as victims feel ashamed to speak out, calling on them to always come forward and speak up as that is the only way more and more cases would be brought to public attention.
With regards to financing, the Speaker urged the movement to make a presentation in that regard to see what can be done in the 2021 budget to be presented to the National Assembly in September.
Earlier, Mrs El-Rufai drew the Speaker’s attention to the rising cases of rape in the country, saying it was becoming alarming and that urgent action needed to be taken.
She said the current trend is a situation where “our women are raped to death and butchered even in churches and mosques where God is worshipped.”
Their main reasons for visiting the Speaker, she said, were to seek his help, ask questions, seek justice and challenge the status quo, noting that statistics have shown that 717 reported rape cases and 7,170 unreported ones occurred in Nigeria within five months.
She said while over 7,000 lives have been brutalised, with some destroyed and others terminated, perpetrators of such heinous acts are not brought to justice even as the laws appear to the lenient.
Speaker, House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila with the Wife of the Kaduna State Governor, Aisha Ummi El-Rufai who led the Movement Against Rape & Sexual Violence ( MARS-V) to a courtesy visit to the Speaker over rising rape cases in the Country at the National Assembly on 15th July, 2020.
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Speaker, House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila (middle), Rep. Ibrahim Hamza (right), Wife of the Kaduna State Governor, Aisha Ummi El-Rufai (2nd left), Mrs. Rahma Abdulmajid and others during a courtesy visit to the Speaker by Movement Against Rape & Sexual Violence (MARS-V) over rising rape cases in the Country at the National Assembly on 15th July,2020.
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Speaker, House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, Wife of the Kaduna State Governor, Aisha Ummi El-Rufai (middle) & house members in a group photography with the Movement Against Rape & Sexual Violence ( MARS-V) shortly after a courtesy visit to the Speaker over rising rape cases in the Country at the National Assembly on 15th July, 2020.
July 15, 2020
Police nab 4 over alleged rape in Akwa Ibom
The Police Command in Akwa Ibom arrested four suspects in the last 18 days over alleged defilement in the state.
The command’s Spokesman, CSP Nnudam Fredrick, said this in a statement in Uyo on Thursday.
Fredrick said that the violations, which occurred between June 21 and July 5, were committed in Ikot Ekpene and Etim Ekpo Local Government Areas of the state.
Fredrick said that relying on a credible intelligence on July 5 at about 8:30p.m., detectives attached to Ikot Ekpene Division apprehended a 34-year-old suspect at Ikot Ubo in Ikot Ekpene for allegedly raping her 15-year-old daughter.
He said that on June 26 the operatives of Area Command in Etim Ekpo, arrested a man aged 36, who was residing on Primary School Road, for allegedly luring a 12-year-old girl with N500 to his room and raped her.
The PPRO added that on June 25, operatives of Ikot Ekpene Division apprehended another male suspect, aged 34, who was residing on Okonnah Street, Ikot Ekpene, for allegedly defiling a 13-year-old girl.
The PPRO said that investigation revealed that the suspect took the victim from her guardian to his home as a housemaid and severally defiled her before sending her back to her parents.
“On June 21, following a complaint, detectives in Eket Division arrested a suspect, aged 30, of Atabong/Liverpool Road, Eket, for allegedly raping a 10-year-old girl.
“Investigation revealed that the suspect bought cooked cow skin (pomo) worth N200 from the 10-year-old girl and thereafter lured her to his house on the pretext that he left the money at home.
“On reaching his house, he dragged the girl into his room and raped her,” he said.
Fredrick said the fight against perpetrators of rape and other gender-based violence in Akwa Ibom was yielding result with the arrest of the suspects within a short period.
He said that the Commissioner of Police, CP Imohimi Edgal, had assured victims of rape and other gender-based violence of protection against stigmatisation and threats as encapsulated in all the extant laws.
“For the avoidance of doubt; sexual offenders, particularly rapists, should be guided by the provisions of Section 1(2) of the Akwa Ibom State Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2020, which stipulates a punishment of life imprisonment except where the offender is less than 16 years of age, the offender is liable to a maximum of 14 years’ imprisonment,” Fredrick said.
The command spokesman said that all the suspects would be arraigned in court as soon as investigations were completed. (NAN)
July 9, 2020
NGO campaigns against rape, gender violence in Ogun
By Ademola Ogunbon
Disturbed by the alarming rate of rape and other sexual and gender-based crimes in the country, a foundation and Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Oyenola Oluwole Foundation (OOF), in partnership with some stakeholders, has intensified its efforts through outdoor exercise and awareness campaign against rape and other gender crimes.
The outdoor exercise tagged “Walk Against Rape and Female Genital Mutilation”, also known as Female Circumcision, was aimed at campaigning against rape, which has tripled in number since Covid-19 lockdown, held at Abeokuta, the State capital.
Convener of the exercise and founder of the organization, Asiwaju Oyenola Oluwole (Wole Papa) appealed to the Nigerian government to exercise its political will and legislative powers to eradicate rape and other gender crimes, especially Female Genital Mutilation which has become embarrassing cultural practice in the country.
While narrating his personal ordeals with his family, he said “apart from the denigration of human dignity and existence, the stigma that follows this despicable act is always a lasting scar, difficult to erase or wipe away, because of the continual psychological trauma.”
Oluwole said that according to the Nigeria Police, between January and May this year, there were 717 reported cases of rape, as UNICEF statistics confirmed that one in four girls experienced sexual violence before the age of 18, adding that sometimes this despicable acts involved murder of the victims in the process.
He said that they were unable to do much at this time than to campaign against rape and other sexual crimes, through means that they would be safe and also accessible to everyone to hear their voices at this time, noting that they decided to hike with few people under strict observation of the social distancing rules for outdoor events.
“Indeed, rape is a crime, it is traumatizing and we called on the Federal Government for stricter measures against rapists in Nigeria,” Oluwole said
He said that women were more vulnerable to sexual crimes than men, noting that sexual violence reflects and reinforces existing gender inequalities.
It would be recalled that Oyenola Oluwole Foundation was established with the objective of campaigning against Female Genital Mutilation, Rape, Domestic Violence and every form of Social Vices that devalues human dignity.
July 8, 2020
FG urged to enforce stringent laws to check rising rape cases
A female musician, Doyinsola Olatunji, on Monday called on the Federal Government to strengthen and enforce stringent laws that would curb the incessant rape cases recorded in the country.
Olatunji told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Ibadan that rapists ought to be treated like criminals.
“We need the government to put up the right law and order to punish offenders like the criminals they are. Rape is a serious crime and should be treated as such. Let us not wait till it gets out of control, because already it is getting too much.
“ I think rape needs to be treated as a more serious crime because really it is a huge crime. Sometimes we hear rapists are granted bail, some of them even walk away freely.
“Rapists should be treated like the criminals that they are, so it can at least dissuade perpetrators from committing such crime and feeling like they can get away with it.
“This, I think is where the government comes in. We need standard law against rape,” she said.
The entertainer also noted that education and enlightenment is also very crucial to tackling the menace.
“I also think we should educate ourselves more on how to defend ourselves, how not to put ourselves in compromising situations. Educating the kids and letting them know what they should know.
“That they can be molested by even families and relatives. Hence the need to speak up and be more vigilant as parents,” she said.
She, however, urged everyone to stop blaming victims when they speak up.
“Firstly, we should not start by blaming the victim. Already they have been abused, they are mentally and psychological disturbed. The last thing they need is for them to be blamed.
“ Listen to them, talk to them, help them to heal, get them a therapist, encourage them to speak up and report the case to the appropriate authorities to get help
“Please let us stop the stigmatisation. Let us stop blaming victims of rape too. It’s already hard for them and doing all these will not encourage other people to speak up.
“Let us show them support. Together we can put an end to this menace,” she said. (NAN)
June 22, 2020
Gender based violence, rape dent on our collective humanity, dignity —Osinbajo
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says gender based violence, rape and sexual assaults are blemishes on the collective humanity and dignity of Nigerians as a people and a nation.
Osinbajo expressed his displeasure on Friday in Abuja while addressing a virtual meeting of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), on the scourge of rape, sexual and gender based violence in Nigeria
Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, in a statement said the vice president affirmed that the fight against gender violence would be driven down to the states though the National Economic Council (NEC).
“I will continue to use the platform of the National Economic Council to encourage states yet to domesticate the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act of 2015 and the Child’s Rights Act of 2003 to do so.
“Gender based violence, rape and sexual assaults are blemishes on our collective humanity and dignity as a people and a nation.
“We will work with all actors to detect and punish the perpetrators of these sickening acts and work even harder to prevent their occurrence.’’
Osinbajo commended NHRC for taking the lead on the important conversations around rape and gender based violence in Nigeria, and for organising a week long sensitisation and advocacy campaigns.
He also lauded the Minister of Women Affairs, Paulen Talen, for her historic presentation on the subject to the Federal Executive Council, which led to the adoption of several important resolutions.
The vice president said that the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, the International Community and several civil society organisations had also been at the forefront of finding solutions to address the root causes of gender based violence.
“While violence against women has always been a challenge in Nigeria, the COVID 19 lockdown has occasioned a steep increase in sexual and gender based violence across the country.
“I am told that between March 23, 2020– May 29, the FCT Sexual and Gender Based Violence Response Team received an overwhelming 105 incidents; an average of 13 incidents per week, up from the usual five to six incidents per week, pre-COVID-19.
“Also, a few days ago the Inspector General of Police disclosed that the police had recorded about 717 rape incidents across the country between January and May.
“And that 799 suspects had so far been arrested, 631 cases conclusively investigated and charged to court, while 52 cases are still under investigation.
“What these figures show is an escalation of an already disgraceful trend of violence against women and girls in the country.”
He regretted the rapes and murders of Mrs Queen Igbinevbo, a pregnant woman in her home in Edo on May 20, 2020, Vera Uwaila Omozuwa and a 22-year-old student of University of Benin on May 27, 2020.
More so, that of Barakat Bello, an 18-year- old female student of Federal College of Animal Health and Production, Ibadan on June 1, 2020; among others, saying they should never have happened and must not be allowed to continue.
The vice president said that President Muhammadu Buhari and state governors recently undertook to take drastic action against gender based violence.
“On June 11, state governors, under the auspices of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), agreed to declare a state of emergency on rape and
gender based violence against women and children, while renewing their commitment to ensure that offenders face the full weight of the law.
“Similarly, the president, in his June 12 address to Nigerians, reiterated government’s determination to fight gender based violence through the instrumentality of the law and awareness creation,’’ he said.
According to him, there is need to look beyond just legislation to fix the problem, but rather, interrogate the dysfunctional cultures, the systemic flaws in institutions and perverse social norms which enable sexual and gender based violence.
The Women Affairs Minister, the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Tony Ojukwu, representatives of the United Nations and civil society organisations participated in the virtual meeting. (NAN)
June 20, 2020
FG pledges to stem growing rate of rape
With alarming figure of 717 reported cases of rape between January and May, the Federal Government has promised to do everything possible to stem the growing tide of the “pandemic”.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed made the pledge on Thursday in Abuja when officials of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) paid him an advocacy visit.
“According to the Inspector-General of Police, between January and May 2020, a total of 717 rape cases were reported.
“That is an average of 143 cases per month and around five cases per day.
“And we are talking of reported cases. Definitely, there are also hundreds of unreported cases.
“This is totally unacceptable.
“The good news is that 799 suspects were arrested during the same period, while 631 cases were conclusively investigated and charged to court.
“It is said that the true measure of a society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members and that include women and children.
“I can assure you that the Federal Government will do everything possible to stem the growing tide of rape and gender-based violence in the country,” the minister said.
Mohammed disclosed that his ministry was partnering with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs to launch a national campaign against rape and gender-based violence.
He said the campaign would include advocacy, public sensitisation and social mobilisation.
“The campaign is necessary not only to raise the level of awareness about rape and gender-based violence but to ensure that Nigerians own the fight against the abhorrent and repulsive criminal acts.
“I have no doubt that when we launch the campaign, the National Human Rights Commission will also join us,” he said.
The minister commended the NHRC for its ongoing advocacy campaign against rape and gender-based violence.
“Your campaign couldn’t have come at a more auspicious time.
“Today, as we are fighting the pandemic of COVID-19, we are also being confronted with another pandemic, the pandemic of rape,” he said.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Mr Tony Ojukwu said “rape is a gross violation of human rights – the right to dignity, right to life, right to sexuality.’’
Ojukwu said the public outrage on account of rape and other violent crimes against women and girls leading to the death of some of the victims had reached a horrifying and scary proportion in recent times.
He, therefore, called for all hands to be on deck to address this pervasive crime in society.
He said the commission had put together week-long activism with the theme: “Equality and Dignity for Nigerian Women, Join the Fight against Rape and SGBV’’ to among others create and maintain visibility on the crime.
Ojukwu called on the minister to use his office to join other key stakeholders in the quest for a durable solution to the national challenge.
June 18, 2020
Police record 42 rape cases in Kano
The Police Command in Kano State said it has recorded 42 rape cases in the state between January and May.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Abdullahi Haruna, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Thursday in Kano.
Haruna disclosed that the command investigated 42 alleged rape cases within the period, adding that the suspects had been charged to courts in the state.
He said statistical analysis of the cases indicated that 33.3 per cent of the rape incidents were committed in uncompleted buildings and 17.7 per cent at farmlands.
“15.6 per cent in shops; 15.6 per cent at the suspects’ residents and 8.9 per cent in schools, while 6.7 per cent and 2.2 per cent of the cases were committed at the victims’ residents and market places, respectively.
“The police is dealing with all reported rape and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases in the state,” he said.
Haruna noted that the number of rape cases had drastically dropped as against what was recorded within the same period last year.
While calling on the residents of the state to report cases of molestation and other forms of abuse to the police, Haruna reiterated the commitment of the command to address the menace.
The spokesman added that: “Keeping quite without reporting rape cases will encourage the perpetrators to further commit the crime.
“Our doors are open for advice; in this era of community policing, the Command incorporates community problem-solving approach in handling issues in the state.”
June 18, 2020
Rape: Make decent dressing lIfestyle: Clerics urge Nigerians
A Catholic cleric, Rev. Fr. Anthony Afariogun, has called for decent dressing by both genders as a strategy to reduce rape and defilement in Nigeria.
Afariogun, Chaplain, Our Lady Queen of Peace, Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday following incessant rape and defilement case.
He said that it was necessary for mothers to ensure that their children would make decent dressing a lifestyle.
According to the cleric, home is the first place where a child receives moral training.
“Mothers are the first teachers and must train, discipline and bring up children very well, encouraging them to dress decently to avoid exposing themselves to danger – rape.
“Sexual molestation is getting too much and happening to both girls and boys.
“Sometimes, revealing dressing that exposes sensitive parts gives them away to the perpetrators.
“The Bible advises us in the book of Proverbs to train a child in the way he should go so that when he is old, he will not depart from it,” he said.
According to him, some people commit rape in order to feel big or get promotion in a cult, and they can go the extra mile to kill their victims to cover up the track.
The cleric added that some men would lack self control after seeing any sensitive part of a woman or even girl.
‘”I give awards every month to girls who dress well in my parish to encourage them to be modest.“
He called on religious organisations to emphasise decent dressing and condemn rape through preachings, youth programmes and seminars.
“Schools should play major roles in fighting rape. Sex education and penalty for rapists should be in school curriculum,” he told NAN.
Rev. Fr Pascal Ekechiegwu of the Saint Luke’s Catholic church, Awgu, Enugu, advised parents to promote effective communication with their children to enable the children to relate experiences to them.
“Parents should create a friendly relationship so that their children can let them know their challenges including threats from rapists.
On the penalty for rapists, Ekechiegwu said that imprisonments rather than death sentence should be encouraged to give offenders an opportunity repent.
NAN reports that rape is punished in Nigeria with up to life imprisonment.
(NAN)
June 18, 2020
D’banj got rape accuser, Seyitan Babatayo, arrested in Lagos
Reports has it that the Nigerian police have arrested Seyitan Babatayo, who accused singer, D’banj, of molesting her at Glee hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos, in 2018. Seyitan’s lawyer, Ojoge, Omileye, confirmed her arrest in an interview with Premium Times on Tuesday, June 16th, in Lagos.
In his words “They arrested Seyitan this morning in Lagos. They arrested our client but somebody is already there to facilitate her release on bail. This matter is coming to Abuja by tomorrow; we are petitioning. The Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) is taking up the petition tomorrow. That is all I can say about it for now,”
According to journalist, Kiki Mordi, Seyitan is has been detained in Sodipo police station, Ikeja, Lagos and hasn’t been granted access to friends, family or a lawyer.
Recall that Dbanj, through his lawyers, Mike Ozekhome Chambers, has asked Seyitan yo to pay N100 million as compensation for falsely accusing him of rape. In a letter signed by his lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, and addressed to Seyitan’s lawyers, the singer demanded that his accuser pays the sum within 48 hours or risk legal action. Seyitan was also asked to write a letter of apology and retraction of her statements be written and published in four national dailies
June 18, 2020