Sequel to the recent revelation by the Inspector General of Police Mohammed Adamu on the high rate of rape in Nigeria, a US based female lawyer and daughter of the Chancellor of Gregory University Uturu, Peace Ibe,JD, has frowned at the high rate of violence against vulnerable females in the country. According to Barr.Ibe, who is the founder of Gregory University Uturu based Gender Advocacy Project, “The GUU community in particular is overtly outraged by the recent series of cases involving violence against women in Nigeria. Recently the media was awash with news of the unfortunate murder of Vera Uwaila Omozuwa, a 22-year old microbiology student,who was raped while studying in an empty church. In April, an 18-year old girl known only as Jennifer, was reportedly raped by five men in Kaduna. Tina Ezekwe, a 17-year old girl, was also shot dead by police officers near her home in Lagos state”. Lamenting this unfortunate trend, Barr.Ibe insisted that it is now time to speak out about these heinous crimes against females.
Barr.Ibe further querried the apparent inability of security agencies to secure the lives of innocent citizens whom they are paid to protect and the failure of the legal system to bring to book perpetuators of such unwarranted violent attacks on females, insisting that all hands must come on deck to halt the inhumane trend.
According to her, “,rape is a dehumanising act against females and a serious infraction against societal laws that should be treated with severe measures to deter subsequent practice”. Going forward therefore, she revealed that her Gender Advocacy Project will henceforth champion massive campaigns against all forms of gender related crimes to ensure the protection of females from sexual assault and police brutality while bringing to book perpetuators of violent affront against women.
Barr Ibe therefore enjoined public spirited individuals to join the campaign to stop further violent defilement of vulnerable females by teaming up with her Gender Advocacy Project in the job of increasing awareness about rape and police brutality, insisting that the time to speak up about these infringements is now.
