The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has demanded justice for rape victims across Nigeria.
The was contained in a statement made available to POLITICS NIGERIA by the spokesperson of the union, Kazeem Olalekan Isreal, on Wednesday.
“We find it disturbing to read of the rape and murder of Bello Barakat of Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology yesterday while she was in the comfort of her room. It is distressing that the rape and murder are coming just two days after one Uwaila of the University of Benin was raped and murdered inside a Church in Benin while she was reading.
“As an association, we feel that this is a dangerous omen and there is a need for it to be curbed. The protection and safeguard of our women is paramount in making the country conducive for everyone to live without fear of being raped or maimed. Rape, without being economical with the truth is a grievous crime and following squarely the words of I.T. Muhammad J.S.C (C.J.N as he then was) in Isa v. State (2016) 6 NWLR (Pt. 1508) 243 “a rapist is worse than an animal. He has no moral rectitude. He throws overboard, the limit of his legal right and he can, shamelessly, deprive another person (more painfully, female children of underage) of their God-given rights of protecting the chastity and sanctity of their body and mind. He is all out to pollute such chastity and sanctity. He has no respect for human beings. He can commit any atrocity. He is a cancer in society.
“Moreover, rape has no moral or legal justification and we owe humanity a duty to flush the country of evil-doers.
“All indices have proven that Nigeria is gradually descending into full-blown anarchy and Hobessian State where life is brutish and short. We condemn in strong terms the evil act which is already eating deep in today’s society and we charge the authority of the Nigerian Police Force not to ever compromise in ensuring that rapists are arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law to serve as deterrence to others.
“We are saddened that despite series of campaigns, rally and programme meant to educate and enlighten our people on the need to shun rape and crime generally, there is a serious and embarrassing increase in the number of rape cases with such being recorded virtually everyday in one part of the country. Or, how best do one explain the heinous act carried out by those that raped and killed Bello Barakat?
“We maintain that sex must be strictly consensual between two consenting adults. In fact, on no condition must people be forced to do things that they would not have done. There is the right to self-determination, the right to dignity of human person and these are internationally recognised rights. Unfortunately, these rights are being trampled upon without restriction.
“We call on all persons to join us as we commence a mass physical action to campaign against rape. This decision is informed by the need to tame this cancerous act and we shall roll out the notification for the protest very soon.
“We also call on the Ministry of Women Affairs and the National Orientation Agency to wake up to its responsibility because this issue is getting out of hand. “
