NAWOJ, FIDA stage peaceful protest over incessant rape in Kaduna, call for stiffer penalty
(Members of NAWOJ and FIDA during campaign rally against rape in Kaduna on Thursday)
//Rally: Godwin Ekosin, Kaduna, N/W Nigeria//
Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) in conjunction with Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) on Thursday staged peaceful rally to draw attention of key decision makers and general public to incessant cases of rape in Kaduna State.
Speaking during the rally which started from NEPA roundabout, Ahmadu Bello and terminated at the secretariat of Nigeria Union of Journalist, Kaduna State Council, State chairperson, Juliet Oyoyo said, the campaign rally became necessary to reduce the cases of rape to a barest minimum in Kaduna State, quickly added that the association she oversee will use available legal means to brought any apprehended rapist to justice.
She said, “we want to put an end to rape particularly in kaduna. Women are not supposed to be the endanger species owing to their place in the society. We must commend the state Governor, Nasir El-rufai for supporting the course to fight against rape in the state. But we need to move from talking to do the working”.
Lamenting the dimension the menace is taking, representative of FIDA, Barrister Audi Mohammed said, raping of girls under 18 years against their consent is now rampant and desire total condemnation by all well meaning Nigerians especially, people in the position of authority.
She advised that, as soon as it happened, the first thing that should come to mind of the survival or her relatives is to take the matter to police station because the police report and medical report will help the Ministry of Health that rape case has been establishment shed and arrest and prosecution done.
Role of parents of the survivor according to FIDA is to embrace her, support her and never say such words that can make them feel rejected and dejected, while the society should show them love and not to neglect them by paving way to more rapist.
She however cautioned that one of the reasons rape is on the increase in recent times include people been afraid of reporting the issue to the authority, adding that, such cases should be reported to appropriate immediately to avoid further reoccurrence.
Earlier, NAWOJ Vice President (N/W), Comr Zainab Rabo Ringim, commended the Kaduna state chapter of the association for organizing campaign rally against rape.
Speaking through the Zonal Secretary of the association, Comr Daharatu Ahmed Aliyu yesterday in Kaduna, Zainab appealed to all and sundry to collaborate with the association in the fight against rape in the state.
“I must commend you for this initiative and I must say that the workshop is timely considering the high rate of rape not only in Kaduna but in the nation as a whole”, she said.