News

16 Days Activism Against Violence: Group Carries out Advocacy Visits, Demands Implementation Of VAPP

Published

1 year ago

November 29, 2022

Editor

Group known as Women Aid Collective (WACOL) Edo South 50-50 Action Women, has demanded an effective implementation of Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law, and all existing Laws criminalizing Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG).

The group also demanded the full implementation by all communities of the state of emergency on VAWG declared by the Nigerian Governor’s Forum in 2020, and that communities should with immediate effect, integrate into the Nigerian Constitution the Supreme Court judgment on the Right of the Girl-Child to Property Inheritance.

The group further implored communities to include women and girls into leadership positions of community governance structures such as cabinet, Town Unions and Youth Wings, through more inclusive processes for elective offices as clearly spelt out in the Constitution.

Prof. Evelyn U. Edosomwan, Chairperson, WACOL, alongside other executives of the group made the demands in Benin during an advocacy visit to head of government ministries/agencies, head of union, etc.

Other issues raised during the advocacy visit included: marginalization, discrimination, spousal neglect and abuse, obnoxious widowhood rites and practices, rape, trafficking in women and girls, defilement and upsurge of paedophiliacs.

The visit, according to her was part of activities to mark the 16 Days Activism Against Violence Against Women which commenced on November 25 globally.

The Chairperson noted that the theme of the 2022 Commemoration is “Unite! Activism to End Violence Against Women and Girls.”

At the office of Monday Osaigovo, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Edo State, Prof. Edosomwan stated that the rural communities still hosts deviants and social miscreants who lure young girls and even babies into corners and rape or defile them, lamenting that women are still being raped even on farm lands.

She also decried obnoxious widowhood practices which she said still persist in some communities as part of cultural norms, just as she solicited support of the head of Local Government and Community Affairs to be part of the strategic meeting where the Enigie and other community leaders will sit down to advance solutions to end such social anomalies.

Responding, the Commissioner said Edo people cannot continue to obey laws and tradition that are harmful to women and girls in the local communities.

He stated that fifty per cent of offenders or culprits in Sexual and Gender-Based Violence often denied that they were not aware and always traded blames when they were caught in the act.

Also receiving the Advocacy Team in his office, the Commissioner for Arts and Culture, Prince Bamidele Obaitan, expressed zero tolerance for all forms of Gender-Based Violence, Child abuse, sexual harassment, and violence against women in all forms.

“It is sad that lots of parents fail in their responsibility too. Poor parenting is presently an issue in our society. Parents have to wake up to their responsibility to take adequate care of their children and wards.

“Women have been marginalized in many spheres of human endeavour, and this has to stop in our communities. Every woman and girl child need to be empowered to enable us have a better society. Indecent dressing is also an issue. Women and every girl child should learn to dress properly, having the mind that there is time and there is a place for everything. Let’s learn to teach our youth the right values and encourage them to shun all vices.” The Commissioner stated.

Also visiting the Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State Council, Prof. Edosomwan and members of the Advocacy Team used the opportunity to condole with the Chairman who was recently bereaved of his mother, just as she stated that the vacuum created by the loss of a mother in a family cannot be filled.

She informed the NUJ boss of the objectives of the visit which, according to her, was to partner with the union in creating awareness on the spate of violence against women and girls in the society, and intention to use the various news media to call on duty bearers, traditional rulers and all others to take more effective action to stop violence against women and girls, especially harmful cultural practices.

She said: “It is imperative to sensitize all relevant stakeholders on the strategic import of the 16 Days Activism in the global struggle. We implore you all, members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm, to join us in drumming up awareness on SGBV and several other societal ills impeding on the growth, survival and progress of women. All hands must be on deck in putting a stop on the vicious circle of Violence against Women and girls.”

The Chairperson further called on all stakeholders, Human/Women’s Rights Activists, CSOs, Law Enforcement officers and Youths to act now toward eliminating violence against women and girls in the Society.

In his response, Comrade Festus Alenkhe stated that the demands of the group are germane and commended the group for the initiatives.

“The perpetrators of these acts of violence against women are not aliens who fell from space. They are people in our neighborhoods, people often known by their victims. It is high time all stakeholders teamed up to stop these vices. The Law should be sterner and should be enforced. I assure you that the NUJ will collaborate with you in giving voice to these campaigns. Once again, do not rest on your oars.”

Among those who accompanied the Chairperson on the Advocacy Visit were Mrs Eseosa Onebamoi, Programme Officer, Comrade Adesuwa Ehimuan, Chairperson of NAWOJ Edo State Chapter and Vice Chairperson of the group, Comrade Grace I. Umeh, Public Relations Officer and former Chairperson, NAWOJ, Edo State and Comrade Habiba Sam, member.

News

Anambra: Three Ex-police Officers Bag Life Imprisonment For Murder

Published

13 mins ago

May 15, 2024

Editor

An Anambra State High Court sitting in Onitsha has convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment three former Police officers for killing a 42-year-old man, identified as Chukwunonso Uchenwoke, from Mbosi in the Ihiala Local Government Area of the state.

The accused persons were said to have killed the man while effecting his arrest over an alleged assault and malicious damage.

The offences were said to have been committed on May 14, 2016, at No. 13 Ibe Street, East Niger Layout, Okpoko in Ogbaru Local Government Area of the state and the Onitsha Judicial Division.

After the incident, the ex-police officers, whose names were given as Juliet Ekwueme, Ugochukwu Obiakor and Raphael Chike, were said to be dismissed from the Nigerian Police Force.

The court, presided over by Justice A.O. Okuma, on Wednesday, held that the prosecution counsel proved the case beyond reasonable doubt and found the accused persons guilty of conspiracy and murder charges preferred against them, which are contrary to Sections 495(a) and 274(I) of the Criminal Code Cap 36 Volume II, Revised Laws of Anambra State of Nigeria 1991, as amended.

The three of them were all convicted and sentenced to seven years of imprisonment for conspiracy and life imprisonment for manslaughter.

Trulaw Chambers, through her principal counsel, C.J. Okeke, prosecuted the case with the fiat of the Anambra State Attorney General.

Reacting to the judgement, the prosecutor, Okeke, described it as yet another victory and a succinct reminder that justice is still tenable with the right legal representatives.

The counsel to the first defendant, G.A. Oluwatuase, said he would appeal the judgment for his client; the counsel to the second defendant, C.E. Ezenwa, and the counsel to the third defendant, C.J. Agbata, said they need a copy of the judgement to determine their next line of action.

News

Three Killed In Abuja Community Clash

Published

20 mins ago

May 15, 2024

Editor

Three persons, including two women and a young boy, have reportedly been killed in a clash between local scavengers, otherwise referred to as baban bola, and residents of the Byazhin community, in Kubwa, Bwari Area Council of the FCT.

An eyewitness, who identified herself as Jessica Adam, told our correspondent that a baban bola attempted to steal a woman’s pot of soup, but was overpowered and beaten up after the woman alerted neighbours and passers-by.

The embittered baban bola then went away and mobilised hoodlums who returned at about 8pm wielding weapons including machetes, clubs, and stones and began attacking residents at random, eventually killing the woman whose pot of soup was earlier stolen.

In the attack, two others, a woman and a young boy, reported to be passers-by who unfortunately ran into the middle of the crisis, were also killed, they were, however, yet to be identified.

“They killed two people yesterday. The community has been in chaos since yesterday. The crisis continued till this morning when they killed somebody again. So far, three persons have been killed and many injured. The Police intervened and restored normalcy, but no arrest was made. The Police have intensified their patrol in the Byazhin area of Kubwa to prevent them from regrouping,” Ms Adams narrated.

A resident in the community, who spoke with The PUNCH on condition of anonymity, also confirmed the death of the three persons but said he had no clue as to what may have started the clash.

“Yes, the riot started yesterday. And by this morning, we learnt that three persons have been killed. It happened in Byazhin around that Millionaire’s Quarters, behind that Living Faith Church. That place is usually dangerous, because it is quite lonely, and you cannot pass through there alone, especially in the evening,” he said.

As of the time of filing this report, The PUNCH gathered that schools and shops in the area have been closed down, as parents scampered to pick up kids from their classrooms, and shops refused to open as of Wednesday morning.

Meanwhile, efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer of the FCT Police Command, SP Josephine Adeh, proved abortive, as her number was repeatedly unreachable.

News

24 Injured In Kano Mosque Explosion

Published

25 mins ago

May 15, 2024

Editor

No fewer than 24 persons were critically injured on Wednesday following an early morning mosque explosion at Gadan Village, Gezawa local government area of Kano State

The Public Relations Officer of the Kano Police Command, SP Abdullahi Haruna confirmed the incident in a statement on Wednesday.

“Today, 15/05/2024 at about 0520hrs, reports were received that, there was an explosion at a Mosque in Gadan Village, Gezawa LGA, Kano State during “Subhi Prayer” and that some people got injured.

“On receipt of the report, the Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command, CP Mohammed Usaini Gumel, immediately deployed the command’s combined teams consisting of experts in Explosive Ordnance Disposal Chemical Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) led by CSP Haruna Isma’il and other Crime-Scene Policemen led by Divisional Police Officer, Gezawa Division, CSP Haruna Iliya.

“The scene was cordoned-off and twenty-four victims including 20 male adults and 4 male children were removed and rushed to Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital Kano where they are currently receiving treatment,” he said.

According to him, forensic analysis at the preliminary stage revealed a suspected petrol explosion, of which a full investigation is ongoing.

He said that the principal suspect had been identified and arrested adding that the suspect is now with the Police.

“The suspect is Shafi’u Abubakar aged 38 years who said his action was purely in hostility following prolonged family disagreement over sharing of inheritance of which those that he alleged to have cheated on him were in the mosque at that moment and he did that for his voice to be heard,” Haruna said.

While the suspect is currently in police custody, he noted that a detailed investigation is ongoing and will be made public in due course.