WORRIED by the increasing cases of rape in the country, a group Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), on Tuesday demanded capital punishment for rapists in the country.
Speaking during a protest march against rape and violence against women at downtown Ring Road and some major streets of Benin City, the National President (Amirah) of FOMWAN, Hajia Halima Jibril called for the domestication of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP).
Coming on the heels of the recent rape of an undergraduate student of University of Benin (UNIBEN), Miss Uwaila Vera Omozuwa in a church in Benin City and other ladies in the country, Hajia Jibril tasked the media to join in creating awareness on the effects of rape and break the culture of silence and complacency in Nigerian society.
Hajia Rabi Rabiri, Edo State Amirah, FOMWAN, who spoke on behalf of the national president, raised concern over the increase in rape cases over time, adding that rape is not limited to a particular age group.
In a remark, Mrs Monira Ozeto Abubakar, the Youth Amirah of FOMWAN, Edo State Chapter, tasked the government put laws that are working in place towards ensuring that perpetrators of rape are brought to book.
“I think doing this will put others away and reduce the number of rape cases in Nigeria.
“Even though some rapists have been set free in courts, we will not rest. That is one of the reasons why we are creating awareness through peaceful protest.
“Even though our voices are faint. We will keep talking until the government listens to us and does something to end rape.
“We have different opinions. Some have said that they (rapists) should be castrated, killed. But, I just think that rapists should be punished and jailed after diligent investigation,” she said.
Mrs Sule Hafishat, Women Leader, Nasrul-Lahi-Fathi society of Nigeria (NASFAT), Edo State Chapter, called for the protection of women’s rights.
The Chief Imam of Benin Central Mosque, Alhaji Abdulfatai Enabuele, said the protest was necessitated by the barbaric behaviour of some Nigerians.
“You stoop so low and start having sex with young virgins and our young girls. You could imagine raping a girl in church?
“In Islam, it is very wrong for anybody to go into a woman that he has not paid dowry on. Those who are doing it; it is evil and they should be dealt with accordingly.
“In our criminal code, those who rape and kill are supposed to be killed. Those who rape is life imprisonment. Those who attempt it is 14 years imprisonment.
“So, the authority should have the political will to deal with the perpetrators of rape and sexual violence.
“Even when they ate caught, nobody takes them seriously. The security agencies make jest of them of those who are raped. It is time we begin to use them to make an example; the rest will now stop.
“God did not create women to be raped so that we men can take care of them. Women are our companion and comforters. They are not our enemies,” he said.
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