Nsukka Today

Culled Vanguard

By VINCENT UJUMADU

AWKA—South East women group under the aegis of Umuada Igbo Nigeria, UIN, a non-governmental organisation, NGO, said weekend, that it had taken up the four alleged rape cases in the South East and the celebrated case of mass rape of women in their 70s and 80s in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State.

The group said it would take the cases to court to ensure the victims got justice.

President of UIN, Mrs. Kate Ezeofor, who spoke at a sensitisation programme at Umunachi in Dunukofia Local Government Area and Awka, the state capital, said the cases were the rape of a five-year-old girl by a 45-year-old man, the rape of two sisters by a 41- year-old man,the rape of an eight-year-old girl by a 46- year-old man and the Opi Nsukka mass rape allegedly carried out by young men in the area.

According to Ezeofor, the case of the eight-year-old girl, who was raped by a 46-year-old man, was particularly pathetic because she was presently walking on clutches due to lack of funds for proper treatment.

The UIN President lamented that cases of rape were on the increase, describing it as the worst form of female abuse.

She regretted that the victims were often reluctant to report the cases to the police because of the stigma associated with it and the fear of being harmed by the rapists, while others accepted gratifications to keep the matter secret.

At the sensitisation exercise, many papers were delivered to keep the public abreast of the situation. Among those who delivered papers include the deputy national legal adviser of the group, Mrs. Nkem Anyaogu, Mrs. Esther Onwubunka, who is the national treasurer of Umuada Igbo, Dame Kate Chibuzor, who is national secretary and Prof Brian Adinma, a former commissioner for health in Anambra State.