Anthonia Duru
Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Hon. Jumoke Okoya-Thomas has condemned, in strong terms, the incessant rape of girls/women, abuse of minors and all forms of Violence Against Women (VAW) in Nigeria.
Okoya-Thomas, a former member of the Federal House of Representatives, stated that she was pained as a mother with the “disturbing news of how minors, girls and women are being raped, abused, violated and killed almost on a daily basis in Nigeria.
Speaking with journalists in her office in Ikeja, Lagos on Friday, Okoya-Thomas called for a proactive action both from the government and concerned persons in Nigeria so that an end could come to issues of rape and violence against women in the country.
While urging the National Assembly and the states houses of assembly to come up with laws against rape and all forms of violence against women, the Women Leader called for stringent punitive measures against whoever is found guilty of rape.
“I feel sad as a mother with the increase in crime of rape that usually leads to death, abuse of minor, and all forms of violence against women in Nigeria.
“Time has come for all of us to rise up against these dastardly acts and protect our minors, girls and women from abuse and untimely death.
“The stories of the rape and deaths of a student of the University of Benin, Uwaila Vera Omozuwa and Barakat Bello of the Federal College of Animal and Production Technology, Moore Plantation, Apata, Ibadan, Oyo State are quite pathetic and these must stop,” she said.
While commiserating with the families of the deceased, Okoya-Thomas stressed that the country could not afford to allow some “hoodlums and shameless personalities destroy promising girls, minors and women all in the process of satisfying their urge for sex.”
It will be recalled that Uwaila Vera Omozuwa, a 22-year-old student of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) lost her life after she was raped and murdered inside a church in Benin City.
The 100-level Microbiology student was said to have gone to read at The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Edo Province 10, Ikpoba Hill, Benin, where was attacked with a fire extinguisher by unknown men on Wednesday, May 27.
Also, Barakat Bello, a teenage student of the Federal College of Animal and Production Technology, Moore Plantation, Apata, Ibadan, was reportedly raped to death in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The 18-year old girl was said to have been assaulted in her residence at Akinyele Local Government Area of the state.
According to information, Barakat was attacked on Monday but her corpse was later discovered.