Osun Women Journalists Condemns Rising Rape Cases

Osun State Chapter of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), on Wednesday condemned in strong terms the rising cases of rape in the country.

Mrs Motunrayo Ayegbayo, Chairperson of NAWOJ in Osun, said this when members of the association visited the State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Barrister Femi Akande, in his office, in Osogbo to campaign against the rising cases of rape across the country.

Ayegbayo decried the rising rape cases where young girls were being raped and in most cases killed with the lame excuse of indecent dressing by the perpetrators.

CityMirrorNews reports that National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Osun State chapter, had joined the 7-day nationwide campaign against rape and violence.

The Chairperson for OSUN NAWOJ said: “we want a prompt prosecution of any gender-based violence. Speedy trial and prosecution will serve as a deterrent.

“We demand a collaborative effort among the ministry of Justice, police, and judiciary for diligent prosecution and accelerated hearing of rape cases in our courts”

While reacting to the demand of the women journalists, Dapo Adeniji, the Permanent Secretary and Solicitor General of Osun disclosed that the ministry has not slacked in its duty, stating that “whenever any case is reported to us, we always religiously rise to the situation.”

He said: “Rape is essentially targeted at women. The highest form of punishment for assault is life imprisonment. And we, as stakeholders in eradicating crime, want to assure you that we are taking necessary steps.”

Adeniji, however, added that it takes several people to tackle rape cases, stating that the victims, often due to stigmatisation, tend to keep silence.

According to him: “We are ready to do our job, but the victim and police are essential to ensure the prosecution of offenders. These crimes include defilement, rape, and indecent assault.

“The first response team that is essential, apart from the prosecutor, is the police. The police must have done a good investigation. After that, we’ll do our own job. When ours is done, we know how to forward it to the court.

“Apart from that, the victim must be ready to talk. The most notorious of the problems we face is that the victim must ready to tell the court that she was raped, how she was raped, and that there was no consent. The moment there is consent, it’s not raping anymore.

“We must remember that the law mandates that we have to prove our case beyond reasonable doubts but with a shadow of a doubt.”

On her part, the Director of Public Prosecution, Mrs Kemi Adejare, implored parents and guardians to train their children to defend themselves.

She said: “Our children should know their rights, and they should be on the alert. They should not allow anyone to take advantage of them. They should learn to defend themselves. They should rise up to the challenge and speak up because, without their cooperation, we can’t do anything.”

Also speaking, the Attorney General, Barrister Femi Akande, gave the assurance that the government is ready to assist women and prosecute offenders.

Barrister Akande avowed that whether the offenders are monarchs or commoners, the law will take its full course.

He stated that society is part of the government, and as such, organisations and religious bodies should educate the public by partaking in advocacy and sensitisation programmes against rape.

“We are doing our best to enforce human rights and every other right. All hands should be on deck. We have heard your voices, and we’ll pass your message to Governor Gboyega Oyetola,” he added.