NIGERIA: DECLARE A STATE OF EMERGENCY ON RAPE!

The ongoing pandemic in the land has brought about palpable happenings in the environment which comprise of domestic violence, untimely deaths due to poor medical care, malnutrition, theft, insecurity, rape and a host of others. The issue of rape tops the list of crime ravaging the land at the moment. News headlines in Nigeria caption this issue on a daily basis and it is so disheartening to see that no counter punishment or reprimanding action have been meted out on culprits/accused persons.

Every day, we see injustice being thrown at our faces and some in the bid to justify the offenders begin to point accusation fingers to the victim and ask irrational questions like - what was she wearing? Where was she when it happened? What did she go there to do and the likes of insensitive statements and in turn, allow the culprits to go scot-free. This ought not to be in a sane and orderly society. I believe justice should be served on the culprits, in order to serve as a deterrent to upcoming offenders. 

Many a times, the girl child has always been a victim of this dastardly act and she has suffered so much emotional, psychological and mental trauma as a result of this. Sometimes, she would be so scared to speak out because she knows she may get blamed for it and may be stigmatized, and when she musters courage to speak, she would be silenced and told to keep quiet because it is not a matter to be brought to the public hearing. This insensitive attitude to the girl child has brought about untold pains and distress to the overall developmental process of her self-esteem and self-actualization in life. 

More so, the Government is not helping issues at all. Ever since the case of rape has begun to be a topical issue till date, no single law have been passed as to how convicted offenders would be punished. The Government seem to be indifferent and nonchalant about this and this has led to an increase in rape cases in Nigeria, since culprits know they will not be brought before the books and will go unpunished. 

In light of this, I solicit that a state of emergency should be declared on rape in Nigeria and other bodies saddled with the responsibilities of protecting the girl child/youths, human rights organizations, religious organizations and NGOs should rise up with one voice to silent this barbaric act in our  land. I seek to join hands with strong bodies who would lead a protest to the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly to seek their interest on passing a formidable bill into law to forestall this evil occurrence and mete out justice to culprits. I also seek that International Organizations such as United Nations, WHO, UNICEF e.t.c rise up and mediate with the Government on our behalf. We have kept too silent for so long and this is gradually eating up our young girls mind and robbing them of their bright destinies and opportunities. Let us join hands together to rebuild the sanity of the society and silence this beastly act in the land so that our girls can live a peaceful, purposeful and successful life.