#JusticeforUwa: Edo Poly’s Gender Studies Centre urges collective effort to punish rapists

The Centre for Gender Studies and Women Development at the Edo State Polytechnic, Usen, has called for collective effort to punish rapists in Nigeria, noting that the abysmal prosecution and punishment for their actions over time had emboldened people with callous intent to go on rampage, endangering the lives of young girls and other vulnerable persons.

Director of the Centre, Barr. Esther Oriarewo, applauded the Edo State Government for its swift response to the recent case of late Miss Vera Uwaila Omozuwa, noting that such response is expected from other state governments in the wake of a rape epidemic in the country.

According to her, “On behalf of the Management, Staff and students of Edo State Polytechnic, Usen, the Centre for Gender Studies and Women Development, Edo State Polytechnic, Usen, is indeed stunned by the news of the vile acts of rape of Vera Uwaila Omozuwa which eventually led to her demise.

“Uwaila was reported to be a 22-year old 100 level student of Microbiology in the University of Benin, Benin City. Her death is one too many. The rate of rape and violence against women and girls in Edo State and the Nation at large, is becoming alarming.”

Noting that girls and women in Nigeria are becoming endangered, Oriarewo noted that the female sex deserves protection and respect from the society and should not be used as objects to satisfy carnal lusts.

“Very recently, it was reported in Ondo State of a father who defiled his two daughters, in Osun State the headless naked body of a woman and her child was found in a gutter, in Enugu State a baby was violently abused with a razor blade by a neigbhour, in Cross River State a 14 year old girl was raped by her landlord’s son, in Jigawa State, a 12 year old girl was raped by 11 men, in Oyo State Bello Barakat (a female student of Institute of Agricultural Research and Training)was stabbed to death for resisting rape, just to mention a few,” she said.

She averred: “We condemn in strong terms these monstrous acts. It’s time for the narrative to change, it’s time for everyone to wake up and do the needful to curb this prevailing menace of rape and violence against women and girls. To the rapist, to the abuser it is pleasure but to the victim it’s a permanent lifelong scar, if at all the victim survives.

“We therefore call on the Security Agencies to use their good office to ensure that justice is not just done but is seen as being done. We applaud the State Government of Edo State for the prompt action taken and still been taken to ensure justice is done for Uwaila. We appeal to other State Governments to do the same. We call on all stakeholders, especially parents, to sensitize their sons, brothers, uncles and husbands on the need to respect their female counterparts.”