Metro

Edo Ministry Recommends Incarceration For Rapists

Published

5 years ago

June 11, 2020

Ministry of Social Development & Gender Issues, Edo State, Thursday, June 11, recommended incarceration and hanging for anyone who indulges in rape.

The Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. (Mrs) Ehimwenma Ebhodaghe, made this recommendation while leading other staff members of the Ministry and other NGOs members in a peaceful rally against rape in the country and the world at large.

The peaceful rally which saw them through major streets in Benin was in collaboration with Global Women For Quality and Sustainable Development; Women International League for Peace and Freedom, Nigeria, among others.

The members who carried placards with inscriptions such as ‘Say no to gender-based violence’; ‘stop rape and defilement’ ; ‘give us pen not pennis’ ; ‘Casson is against rape; walked through major streets and up to the NUJ Press Centre.

Speaking further, the Permanent Secretary said the rising rate of rape and gender-based violence prompted the rally, as she said government can no longer tolerate such.

“We come to let everyone know that we cannot tolerate rape any longer; we say no to gender-based violence; defilement, violence against children and women. Enough is enough! Government can no longer tolerate it anymore”, she added.

While recommending further that perpetrators should be brought to book and face justice, Ebhodaghe said if possible they should be sentenced to dead.

She said, “Perpetrators should be brought to book and justice. We recommend death sentence for rapests; incarceration for rapists. We say no to rape. Rape must stop! Gender-based violence must stop! Defilement must stop! Child abuse must stop! Child abuse must stop!”

In her reaction, representative of Global Women For Quality and Sustainable Development, Mrs. Mariam Kadiri, said they were in the street to solicit for support and justice for late Uwa and others who were raped and brutalized by some evil persons.

She lamented that many women are facing what Uwa faced but are silence because of the fear of the unknown, adding that if Uwa had not died probably nobody would have heard about it.

“We are asking for justice for her and all other children that are facing defilement; that are facing rape because we have much happening but because of silence nobody knows. If Uwa had not passed on, probably we would have silence about it. so, we are demanding fo justice.

“We are saying no to gender-based violence; we are saying no to child abuse. We say no to violence against women and children; we are saying no to defilement. We don’t want lives of young girls be cut short”, she noted.

Welcoming them to the NUJ premises, Chairman, NUJ, Edo State council, Roland Osakue, noted that members are constrainted and concerned about the alarming issue of rape in the state and the country at large.

Osakue, who described rapests as criminals, called for a legislation that will protect women and make rapists to face severe punishment.

He also called on parents to protect and monitor their girl child, adding that girl child and women in general are facing a lot of challenges.

“Penalty should be meted on rapists through a legislation. There must be serious legislation that recommend severe punishment for rapists.

“Another is that the girl child must be protected. Parents should also monitor their girls child, because the girl child is facing a lot of challenges“, he said

Metro

Fire Guts Section Of Rivers Secretariat

Published

9 hours ago

October 6, 2025

Editor

A section of the Rivers State Secretariat was on Monday evening gutted by fire, leaving parts of the complex damaged before it was brought under control.

The fire, which reportedly started a few minutes past 5 p.m., was contained through the swift response of the Rivers State Fire Service.

Eyewitnesses said the blaze spread rapidly before firefighters arrived at the scene to extinguish it, preventing further damage to nearby offices.

Although the cause of the fire has not been officially confirmed, preliminary reports suggest that an electrical fault may have triggered the incident.

The Rivers State Head of Service, Inyingi Brown, also attributed the outbreak to an electrical fault, urging workers to ensure that all electrical appliances are switched off before leaving the office.

An unconfirmed source indicated that the fire may have affected the state Pension Commission, though the extent of the damage remains unclear.

Authorities are yet to release an official statement on the full impact of the incident as investigations continue.

Metro

18-year-old Hangs Self, Police Launch Investigation

Published

1 day ago

October 5, 2025

Editor

The Benue State Police Command has confirmed the death of an 18-year-old identified as Tersoo Veregh, who allegedly took his own life in Makurdi, the state capital.

According to Zagazola Makama, the deceased’s father, Mr. Veregh Nathaniel, of Iorkyaako Street, High Level area of Makurdi, made the tragic discovery around 2:00 a.m. on October 4, when he stepped out of his room to ease himself and found his son hanging from the ceiling.

Following the report, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of ‘B’ Division, Makurdi, led a team of detectives to the scene. The body was photographed and later taken to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital mortuary.

Police authorities said an investigation has commenced to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Metro

Police Intercept Illicit Drugs, Recover Pistols In Delta

Published

1 day ago

October 5, 2025

Editor

The Delta State Police Command has intercepted a truck loaded with large quantities of suspected illicit drugs.

The truck, with registration number 3BGT 18LG, driven by one Dennis Uruma, a 52-year-old man from Igalamela Local Government Area of Kogi State, was intercepted by a patrol team of the Eagle Net Special Squad, Asaba, led by Commander SP Danyaya Yunusa.

The operation was conducted in synergy with the Office of the Executive Assistant to the Delta State Governor on Illicit Drugs and Human Trafficking.

The driver was arrested after the search, while the counting and measurement of the exhibits are ongoing.

In another development, on October 3, 2025, operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, RRS, led by Commander CSP Nosa Alex, acting on credible intelligence, conducted a targeted raid on a suspected criminal hideout around the Basket Market area of Asaba.

During the operation, three suspects, Rabbi Godwin, 25, Lucky Nanakumo, 20, and David Igwe, 19, were arrested.

A search of the location yielded one fabricated Beretta pistol, which was recovered and secured as evidence.

Again, on October 1, 2025, the DPO ‘B’ Division, Asaba, CSP Edewor Akponegware, led his surveillance team in a swift response to a distress report about a robbery incident around the BONSAAC axis of Asaba, where a female victim was dispossessed of her phone and other valuables at gunpoint by two male suspects.

Working with local vigilantes, the team established a discreet cordon and began a methodical sweep of adjoining streets.

The coordinated push paid off when officers intercepted one suspect, Amara Nwako, 21, a male indigene of Oko, while his accomplice fled into an uncompleted building.

A locally made pistol was recovered during a search of the immediate vicinity. Preliminary findings revealed a possible cult affiliation linking the suspect to a certain Arobaga secret cult.

According to Bright Edafe, the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, all the suspects remain in custody, while a manhunt is underway for the fleeing accomplice.

(DAILY POST)