Lamenting over the high degree of rape cases witnessed in the country at large, the member representing Owerri North state constituency has raised a motion urging the Governor of the State, Dist. Sen. Hope Uzodinma to alert all the necessary agencies in the state to initiate actions towards ending the ugly story.
Ejiogu stated that the traditional Rulers, Chief Judge of the state, and all other security agencies should urgently be directed as should.
The lawmaker presenting the motion as a matter of urgent importance, and was seconded by Orsu representative, Hon. Ekene Nnodumele during the House plenary, Thursday, noted that it is worrisome that the issue of rape has become the order of the day not just in the state but the country at large, adding that It is now the trending story on the social media, print and broadcast media.
He described as disturbing the fact that it is no longer the normal reports of how a lady was raped by a man, instead it has now graduated to a demonic dehumanizing level, citing how it was reported that seven men ganged up against a lady.
Citing other instances, the legislator recalled that reports were published on how late Vera Uwaila Omozuwa who resides in Edo was reported on the social media to have been raped to death in a church and how another lady was also raped and murdered in a community in the South West, which according to him made other victims that had been abused in the past to begin speaking out.
One of the victims, he said was a student of Imsu who took to Linda Ikeji’s page to narrate how she was raped fifteen years ago, which according to him, made people began demanding for Justice through their comments on the social media.
“The state is not left out in this as one had been reported to had happened in Uratta and other parts of the state. I was also informed of how another young lady was raped in his constituency and Four other ladies had approached me on the same issue.
“Most of the victims of the inhumane act do not speak out due to the fear of being stigmatized by the society and even when they do the officer in charge sweep the cases under the carpet for one reason or the other, thereby letting the culprit go scort free to devour another victim, “he lamented.
He urged that it was high time the matter was taken seriously as culprits caught would be prosecuted, so that the girl – child would be protected from further abuses and the trauma that follows suit.
The House therefore urged the governor to direct the traditional rulers to make sure no rape case is handled at only the family or community level and that all the security agencies should henceforth prosecute and jail anyone found guilty of rape charges.
They further urged the governor to have an interface with the Chief Judge of the state, state Commissioner of Police and Heads of other security services on the best approach in ensuring that identified victims of rape are not disclosed to the public to avoid social stigma.
