Osun Students Protest Against Incessant Rape In Nigeria, Demand Death Penalty For Rapists

By Ayobami Agboola, Osogbo

Perturbed by the incessant cases of rape in Nigeria, the National Association of Osun State Students, NAOSS, has recommended death penalty for rapists in order to serve as a yardstick for perpetrators.

Addressing journalists at the NUJ Correspondents’ Chapel in Osogbo on Thursday about the SayingNoToRape campaign, the Association’s president, Salahudeen Ayowale said capital punishment will serve as deterrent for rapists.

NAOSS noted that the campaign focuses on the significance of saying no to rape and other forms of violence, and the fact that rapist are animals.

They noted that as university students, many young people are not clear in their own minds about what constitutes rape or sexual assault.

“There are too many blurred lines, or ‘grey areas’ and unlike other crimes such as theft, or assault or fraud, a lot of people keep finding excuses and senseless justification for raping.”

The association stressed that it is not easy to speak about rape, to go into the horrific detail of what happened and the devastating trauma it leaves behind.

“It is so hard that as individuals and as a society, we often shy away from the subject altogether.

“Flawed and flimsy excuses for rape perpetuate a dangerous culture of victim blaming. Ladies’ fear of not being believed is confirmed time and time again, as we see courageous survivors who seek justice frequently failed by the law.”

“We all understand the current pandemic situation and must keep on abiding by the governments directive on social/physical distancing, which is why the leadership of NAOSS is conducting this campaign with few students as delegation to move around Osogbo, the state capital to stage a peaceful and non-violence “WalkAgainstRape” that involve creating anti-rape awareness.

The association said as Osun State students, it is vital that our schools and home be safe for us to learn and love without fear of harassment or abuse of our fundamental human rights.

“Consent is a very powerful thing, but we need to know how it works so that we all can use it to feel safe and happy. Because rape perpetrators have failed to realize that it is five minutes pleasure for them and life time injury for their victims.”

While commending the efforts of the police and other security agencies against rape and other forms of violence, the association also charged them to put more efforts in tackling the menace.

The association while demanding justice for the recent rape victims in the country, urged victims not to be afraid to talk about rape in order to expend capital punishment on the perpetrators.