President of the Mothers’ Union and Women’s guild and wife of the Archbishop, Province of the Niger, Anglican Communion, Mrs Martha Ibezim has lamented the increase in cases of rape in Nigeria.
Mrs Ibezim spoke at the All Saints’ Church, Ukpo, Dunukofia local government area, Anambra State while delivering an address to mark the 34th Awka Diocesan Women’s Conference (ADWOC) 2020.
She lamented the increasing rate of sexual abuse of under-age girls by adult males, urging women to rise and stand against rape in the society.
She said, “It’s time for the church, families and the society to raise stronger voices against forceful sexual relationships that affect our women especially the young females.
‘’They overpower girls and women, drug their victims, and sexually abuse them. The current trend of using dangerous drugs to cause victims to lose their memory and prevent immediate and perpetual conception and the gruesome murdering of victims is becoming alarming.
“Sisters, let us watch and pray against this evil. We must stand against rape now. We are grateful that the governors of Nigeria’s 36 states declared a state of emergency on rape.
‘’Rape has become a dominant intermittent issue of the season as cases of godless forceful sexual abuse, drugging and murder have remained major headlines in this coronavirus induced lockdown.”
She regretted that Nigeria has a long history of an alarming prevalence of sexual violence and impunity for rapists, but assured that with concerted efforts, the scourge can be exterminated, especially through sanctions imposed on perpetrators.