Editorial: Fighting The Rape Endemic In Nigeria

The news about the rape and death of Vera Uwaila Omozuwa, a 22-year-old Microbiology student at the hands of some yet to be identified rapists has sparked a great outrage among Nigerians. She died inside a Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Benin-city, Edo State, where she sought out for quiet study. Her death was announced when Nigerians were still angry at the murder of 17-year old Tina Ezekwe by two policemen at Iyana-Oworo, Lagos.

Raping a minor or an adult is a serious offense anywhere in the world. The issue of rape has always been always downplayed in our society especially when the high and mighty among us are the culprits. Last year, the flamboyant Senior Pastor of Commonwealth of Zion Assembly, Abuja, Biodun Fatoyinbo was accused by Busola Dakolo of rape. She accused him of raping her twice before she turned 18. After a series of threatening messages became futile, the Police seemed uninterested in pursuing the case. As usual, the Nigerian factor of might is right has taken over.

One of the dangerous effects of rape is that after the culprits have been caught or may have escaped justice, the trauma stays with the victim throughout their lives. Some have suffered damage and disruptions through forced entry especially when the victim is a child. When it results in pregnancy, the child always reminds the mother about how the conception took place, this always results in grief and self-pity. In some cases, the trauma and paranoia caused by the ugly incident can result in suicide.

Regrettably, society always frowns upon the woman when she has been victimized. In an ugly experience narrated by some women in Abuja last year, they told the sad story of how they were molested and raped by the policemen that were meant to protect them. In a heartbreaking episode, Abuja cops raided a nightclub, forcefully arrested 65 ladies in the name of prostitution, and forcefully had sex with those who could not afford N3000 fine. Many people said the ladies are prostitutes, so they should not complain.

If we want to live in a society laden with chaos and barbaric activities, we should state the obvious, but that is not currently so, justifying rape by blaming the carnal act on the victim is ungodly, wicked, inhumane, and callous.

Despite all these myriads of reported and unreported rape cases, the government is still handling the issue of rape with kid gloves. Rape is as bad as terrorism. What is the point in granting rapists bail when they are threats to society? When armed robbers are caught, are they granted bail? The same applies to suicide bombers and kidnappers. They are all terrors of the night and evils that lay waste by the day.

We urge the government to hunt rapists with the same zeal used in hunting down Boko Haram terrorists. While the pen was about to get dry, we heard another story of Barakat, a student at the Institute of Agriculture, research and Training, Ibadan. She was raped and stabbed to death. Our daughters must live, it is not a crime to be a female. We say #JusticeForUwa #JusticeForBarakat and justice for all victims of rape. Their cries should not be in vain.