It is bad news for perpetrators of rape and other forms of sexual violence in Anambra State. This comes in the wake of the resolve by the Anambra State Legislature to impose stiffer penalties against them, reports Ifeoma Ezenyilimba
The legislators, disclosed this when the Anambra State Chapter of a group known as Okpotokpo Adaigbo Niile Worldwide, staged a peaceful protest against rape and all forms of sexual violence on women and the girl child at the Legislative Complex, Awka, last Tuesday, August 11.
The protesters, displaying placards with various inscriptions such as ‘Don’t Rape Her’, Stop Sexual Violence’, ‘Stop Child Abuse’, ‘Say No to Rape’ and ‘Enough of Incessant Rape’, at their maiden One-Day campaign, demanded stiffer penalties against the perpetrators of rape and sexual violence.
Speaking on behalf of the leadership of the Anambra State House of Assembly, the Chairman, House Committee on Gender, Women’s and Children’s A Hon Nonso Smart Okafor, condemned the menace of rape in society,noting that such often left the victims devastated with its attendent psychological trauma.
According to him, the devastating effect was destructive, such that if the victims were not rehabilitated, they might end up wasting their lifetime.
Hon Okafor, who is the member representing Nnewi North Constituency, described rape as evil in its entirety, insisting that males, who were mostly the perpetrators of what he described as a heinous crime, must accept the ‘no’ from the females, and desist from taking advantage of them by force.
The House Committee Chairman, who recalled that many groups had in the past lent their voices to the campaign against rape, described such advocacy as what would help to put the perpetrators under check.
Wondering why a man would forcefully, or even drug a lady to have canal knowledge of her, Hon Okafor, described perpetrators of rape as people with psychological problems, who must be made to face the penalties.
He assured the group of the needed support, noting that the legislature would intensify efforts to drastically fight the menace.
Also speaking, the Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Gender, Women’s and Children’s Affairs, Hon Beverly Nkemdiche Ikpeazu, condemned rape in all forms, describing it as horrible.
Hon Ikpeazu, urged mothers to stop sending their daughters alone to their relatives houses on errands, especially in the late evenings, in order to curb occasions of rape.
She regretted that many young girls had been abused sexually by their so-called uncles and cousins, and enjoined the women to monitor the activities of their children.
The female legislator, who is representing Onitsha South II Constituency, also condemned cases of married men raping their wives.
Insisting that perpetrators of rape should be brought to justice, Hon Ikpeazu, who threw her support behind the women’s group on the fight against the scourge, urged them to sustain the advocacy.
Adding his voice, the Chairman on Basic Education and the member representing Anaocha II Constituency, Hon Ejike Okechukwu, observed that the males were also victims of rape, though on a minimal scale.
He condemned cases of rape and sexual abuse of little male children by female adults and the little female children by male adults, noting that such were rampant in society. He insisted that such should be discouraged.
The member representing Nnewi South II Constituency, Hon JohnBosco Akaegbobi, was also among the legislators that received the group.
Receiving the group at the Command Headquarters, Amawbia, the Commissioner of Police Anambra State Command, CP John B. Abang, assured them of Police’s support and the readiness to make Anambra a rape free state.
The commissioner, who was represented by the Command:s Public Relations Officer, SP Haruna Mohammed, further stated that the Command would continue to partner with the group and other stakeholders to enhance safety and security in the state.
He charged the victims of rape to always speak out so that the perpetrators will face justice.
The group which had, “To become the voice of all Igbo women worldwide, fostering unity, independence and progress”, as her mission statement, condemned rape in its entirety.
Earlier, the Coordinator of the group, Mrs Ogochukwu Okpokwasili in her remarks, at the house of assembly and the police headquarters, Amawbia, highlighted the vision of the group as voice of the women.
She said, the Okpotokpo Adaigbo Niile Worldwide with its headquarters in FCT, Abuja, had Chief Mrs Chinelo Nwokolo as the Founder/President General.
In an interview, the South East Zonal Coordinator of Okpotokpo Adaigbo Niile Worldwide, Mrs Uche Amunike, said the group was an NGO that fought the cause of the girl child and women.
She said the campaign was for the group to register her displeasure on the scourge of rape against the girl child and the women in society.
The zonal coordinator, who described rape as a canckerworm that had eaten deep into the fabrics of society, urged the men to control their desires and desist from abusing the female members sexually.
:We are saying no to rape. The men should control their desires for women. If a woman says no, take her no for an answer and don’t abuse her. If a girl is a minor, do not even touch her, because that will amount to high abuse. If an adolescent says no, take her no, and don’t say that she pretends. We are saying with one voice that the scourge called rape should stop,’ Mrs Amunike stated.
Also speaking, the Campaign Organising Committee Chairman, Dr Chito Akamelu, said the campaign was for the group to express her concern over the rising cases of rape in society and lend its voice to put an end to the evil.