Group, students protest against rape, defilement in Imo

A group, Women Situation Room Nigeria in partnership with Alliance against Domestic Violence and Abuse (AADVA), and some female students of tertiary institutions in Imo State, at the weekend, temporarily disrupted vehicular, social and economic activities, as they staged a peaceful protest in Owerri against increasing reported cases of rape, even among teenagers in the state and Nigeria.

They called on governments at all levels to step up legal and security actions, as well as ‘sit-out-action’ to curb cases of rape, defilement and related vices in Imo State and Nigeria.

The protesters, including students of Imo State University, the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede and Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri, among others, wore black on black, as they marched through the streets of Owerri to Government House, carrying different placards that read: ‘We say no more child defilement.’ ‘Government should act fast and provide additional security measures.’ ‘This cannot continue.’ ‘Punish the culprits.’

According to Ijeoma Ogadinma, coordinator of the group, the pathetic case of a 14-year-old girl, who was raped last week, calls for thorough manhunt for the perpetrators. She wondered why government has been unable to tackle the issue promptly.

Speaking on behalf of the students and victims, Ginika Jennifer Okoro, a female student leader at Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, regretted that the rapists come in droves to rape students, who sometimes are held while returning from night engagements.

She told The Guardian that students are sad that adequate security has not been provided in the institutions to check the menace. She urged that something urgent be done to stop it.