Some aggrieved female groups, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital have protested against the incessant rape of women and girl child by hoodlums in the state.
The protesters, carrying placards with different captions, held activities down at the Oyo State Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan for hours while calling for justice.
They lamented the rape and killings of 18-year-old Barakat Bello and 29-year-old Azeezat Shomuyiwa by some elements who are still at large.
According to one of the aggrieved women, Adebobola Agbeja, increase in rape cases and women violation in the state gives worries.
Agbeja said, “No excuse for rapists. We want full enforcement of laws. The laws are there but how many people have been apprehended? We want the leadership to ensure that laws against rape are enforced. We believe in action.”
Another member of the group, Karimot Odebode, said, “We are at the state Secretariat to let stakeholders know that we are tired of being raped. We are tired of women being killed.
“Uwa was killed in Benin. Tina was killed in Lagos. They killed Barakat in Ibadan. We did not come on our own volition; our mothers sent us. Our daughters sent us. Our sisters sent us.
“The law says there is life imprisonment for rapists and 14 years for attempted rape but it is sad that in Oyo State, nobody has been convicted of rape and we keep hearing rape cases. So, where are the rapists going to? Why have they not convicted rapists?
“We want the implementation of the laws. We want the police to do their job. The governor is to be blamed for non-implementation of the law. Why is it that when it comes to women they are found wanting?”
The President, National Association of Nigerian Students, Daniel Akpan, led a coalition of students leaders on a peaceful rally against rape.
The state Coordinator, National Orientation Agency, Mrs Dolapo Dosunmu, said violence against women must be condemned in its entirety, describing the rise in rape cases, violence and abuse of women as unacceptable.
While receiving the students leaders on behalf of Governor Seyi Makinde, the state Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Seun Fakorede, lauded the groups for rising against the rape and killings of their folks.
He said that the state government would ensure that justice was brought to bear on the issue.
The Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin, on Monday, said the House would ensure that stricter legislations were made against rape and other forms of sexual violations in the state.Ogundoyin, while addressing the groups of youths on procession to the state secretariat, said law on violence against women would be worked on.
He said, “I will not support violence against anybody. We will come with stricter punishment for rapists.
“There are two aspects to the law. You can make the law. The law has to be implemented by the agencies. I see now that there is coalition of civil rights groups. I want the coalition not just to come out in this way but to also come up with strategies to ensure that the law is implemented.”
