WOMEN CAMPAIGN AGAINST PAEDOPHILE RAPIST IN MY COMMUNITY

The women in my community rose in one voice and matched the street in protest against a middle aged man who has been caught about 3 times with girl children by the youths of the community and given a beating of his life. It did not deter him until he was caught the fourth time and the information got to the women forum during our annual general meeting held 2nd week of August. The women took to the street after conducting an investigation to ascertain the authenticity of the allegation.

This man ravaged a 3year & 11months girl in her grandmothers house who has gone to the market. This man saw the girls grandmother going to market and exchanged pleasantly with her and enquired where she was going to. This man knowing that the woman will not come back early proceeded to her house and met the girl and her brother in the house. In order to have a free access to the girl, he sent out the boy to go and buy sweet and biscuit across the road. Immediately the boy left he took the girl, removed her shorts and placed her on his laps and proceeded to ravage the girl. They were in this position when the girl's brother came back and started shouting that the girl should come down from the man's laps. By then the deed has been done. A neighbour who heard the shout came and took the girl and raise an alarm. The man ran into the girl's grandmothers bedroom to dress up properly before people could gather.

Women matched to the man's house in their numbers to carry out the traditional \"Igbo akwukwo\" showing their distaste on his abominable act. The man was at home and came out in the bid to explain himself but nobody cared to listen to him because he was given an opportunity to explain himself during the investigation exercise and he told the investigators that nothing happened. The women also matched to the Eze's palace to report and register their anger and distaste.

My organization advised the women leadership to write a formal complaint to the State Ministry of Women Affairs (child welfare dept) attaching a comprehensive doctors report obtained after thorough examination. The local government office and the Eze and his council and the police should also be copied in the letter. Meanwhile the police having heard about the protest, has sent the community government council instituted by the state government to investigate the matter and report back to them. I met with the CGC investigators to find out if there are contradictions on the story from the one obtained by the women, so far there has been none.

Violence against women must stop and we all have a part to play in this serious matter. It could be anybody's daughter's turn tomorrow. This is the reason everyone must get up and fight this type of human rights violation especially when it involves innocent children who are yet to know the rights & wrongs and cannot fight and protect themselves against the wolves in sheeps clothing called relatives. My organization joined in full force to condemn this abominable act and in the match of protest. World pulse will be updated in due course as events unfolds.