Amnesty International (AI) has decried what it described as Nigeria’s Federal Government’s inadequate response to the cases of rape in the country, saying the alleged inaction of the government was emboldening rapists across the nation.
The International right group concerns came on the heels of the death of Uwa Omozuwa, a 22-year-old student of the University of Benin who died during the weekend after she was attacked, raped by some men who hit her with a fire extinguisher cylinder and left her in a pool of her blood.
The incident reportedly took place at the auditorium of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Edo Province 10, Ikpoba Hill, Benin where she was said to reading on Wednesday, May 27, 2020.
But, Amnesty International, while reacting to the incident, lamented the neglect of the Nigerian government when it comes to the issue of rape, noting that the government woeful response was surprising despite the fact that rape is a crime globally and also in Nigeria.
The human rights agency, through a statement released on its social media page on Sunday, increase in cases of rape across the country was not unconnected to the lackadaisical attitude of the nation’s law enforcement agency to prosecute rapists.
The agency, however, urged the government to up its game by ensuring rapists face the full weight of law and account for their crimes to ensure the issue of rape is eliminated or reduced to the barest minimum in the county.
“blasphemous infidelity”
“While the nation is still coming to terms with this gross violation, in Jigawa state 11 men were arrested for raping a 12-year old girl at Limawa in Dutse, the state capital. Although rape is a crime in Nigeria government’s response to it continues to be, woefully inadequate
“Rising cases of rape across Nigeria was a result of the failure of law enforcement to ensure that rapists face justice. We are deeply concerned that perpetrators of rape in Nigeria invariably escape punishment.
“Nigerian authorities must discard discriminatory laws that condone rape or prevent its successful prosecution.” the agency wrote.
Amnesty International condemns the rape and brutal murder of Vera Uwaila Omozuwa; a 22-year-old 100-level student of the University of Benin, Edo State. Vera Uwaila was raped and killed inside a Redeemed Christian Church of God in Benin city. #JusticeForUwa #RapeIsACrime pic.twitter.com/TGm4prCVxp
— Amnesty Int. Nigeria (@AmnestyNigeria) May 31, 2020
