President Muhammadu Buhari Wednesday endorsed action plans drafted by the Ministry of Women Affairs to tackle the increasing rape of girls and women across the country.
The Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, while briefing State House reporters after the virtual Federal Executive Council meeting chaired by Buhari, said a memo was presented to address the current rape “pandemic”.
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Tallen, who said the memo “got the full support of Mr President”, added that her ministry would pursue an aggressive media campaign against the menace in conjunction with the Ministry of Information.
The minister, who described the upsurge in rape cases as embarrassing, called for the domestication of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act 2015 in states to ensure rapists face deserved punishments for their actions.
She said only nine out of the 36 states of the federation had domesticated the VAPPA law.
Wide condemnation had trailed the death of Vera Uwaila Omozuwa, a 22-year-old microbiology student, raped and killed in an empty church in Benin City.
Last week, 18-year-old Barakat Bello was also raped and killed at her parent’s home; while Azeezat Shomuyiwa, a 29-year-old pregnant woman, was also murdered at her residence in Oyo State.
Tallen, who said members of council were unanimous in their decision, added that she had also received the full support of the governors.
“I know before COVID-19, we’ve always had pandemic of rape cases and gender based violence.
“But with the lockdown due to COVID-19, women and children are locked down with their abusers and the number has escalated three times.
“There’s no state that is an exception.
“This has reach an embarrassing situation that a memo was presented in council, calling for immediate intervention, legal and prompt dispensation of justice in the cases.
“Because, from the statistics we’ve and from the meetings I had with the 36 states commissioners of women affairs, we’ve hundreds of cases within our courts that have not been addressed.
“And out of one case reported, be sure there are 10 others not reported.
“As a result, we called for aggressive media campaigns, public enlightenment for people to rise up and speak out against abuse of minors and rape cases.
“We also called on the judiciary for prompt dispensation of cases and the police to ensure rape cases are not treated with levity or wish away.
“We’re destroying the future generation because if you rape a child, you’ve destroyed that child for life and that is not acceptable.”
The minister said both the traditional and religious leaders would be engaged in the advocacy campaign.
She disclosed that: “As soon as COVID-19 is cleared, we’ll move out with the Minister of Information on advocacy round the country.
“I’ve put in place a team, in fact a research is going on at all the state levels, while we’ve the national data collection at the ministry.
“We’re also working closely with National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons to find out the reasons why a man of 80, 75, 60 will rape a child of one, two years…
“So many horrible cases that’ll break your heart.
“I think there’s more to it, either diabolical or mental cases…
“There are issues of mental health and other issues that need to be addressed.”
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