By Dele Ogbodo/Hillary Asemota/Amina Aminu
Against the wave of rising Gender Based Violence across the country, the President, Helpline Social Support Initiative (HSSI), Dr. Jumai Ahmadu, and the Founder, BEAM Altruistic Foundation (BAF), based in Akwa-Ibom State, Ms. Blessing Ambrose, have commended the Director General/CEO, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP), Hajia Binta Bello and her team for their tenacity and doggedness which led to: securing conviction and life imprisonment at the Court for two security guards: Mr. James Sule, 30 years old and Adamu Yau, 25 years for serial rapping an adolescent for 6 years.
As the judgment echoes across the country, Dr. Ahmadu, who is also a Deputy Director at the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), reputed for Safe Child Safety advocacy while commenting on the verdict with EXTRAORDINAIRE.COM checks, admitted that she read the story across several media platforms, adding – the news broke my heart into pieces.
She said: “I wonder what kind of trauma that young girl and her family must have gone through with the negative impact to having her future as a woman who plans to have a family in the near future.”
That judgment, according to the founder of the Civil Society Organisation, argued that the life imprisonment meted on the two security guards wasn’t enough, adding -which is why four (4) years ago Helpline Social Support Initiative, started a campaign for surgical castration for any man that defies a minor or any man that rapes any woman.
“So for me that verdict or judgment of life imprisonment is not enough and it is high time we amplified that and see how we can advocate for that surgical castration as a measure to be meted on any man that raped any woman.
“Because that ‘weapon’ in dehumanizing a girl of 6 years has to be destroyed.”
Sanitising the society from rape violators and child abusers, Dr. Ahmadu’s further advice, adding that beyond that, mothers should be vigilant –“If you observed that your daughter has any form of change of attitude, talk to her.
“Mothers should also empower their girls to be able to talk about anything because part of the reason why that young girl endured that abuse for six years was because the perpetrators threatened her that they would wipe away her family if she told anybody.
“So, to answer your question in simple terms, that punishment is not enough because they may out accidentally one day due to state pardon come out of Correctional Centres and still become an endangerment to our society.
Dr. Ahmadu, why justifying for stiffer punishment, said “There was a similar case that happened in Bauchi that a man who raped somebody and was pardoned and he came out and raped a lady and was rearrested and we also suggested that NAPTIP should open an offenders records book pictures of child violators and rapists can be posted so that people would see them and know that they are endangered to the society.
Speaking with our reporter from South-south: Ikot Obio Odiongo in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Ms. Ambrose reiterated that her advocacy streams child and women development.
On the judgment secured by NAPTIP through the Court which lasted for 2 decades, she said: “The recent development resulting in life imprisonment of two perpetrators who repeatedly violated a young girl of 6 for 6 years in Abuja is both heartbreaking and deeply disturbing.
“While I commend the efforts of NAPTIP and the Judiciary for ensuring justice, I strongly believe that a crime of this magnitude deserves even stricter and more severe punishment like castration while they serve life imprisonment.
As president of Beam Altruistic Foundation, an organization committed to the protection, growth and development of children and women, I lend my voice against every form of female harassment, sexual abuse and violence against minors in Nigeria, she said.
Ambrose, added: “No child deserves to grow in fear, trauma, silence and pain.
“The fact that this innocent child was abused for 6 good years under threat of death is a sad reminder that many children are suffering in silence in several communities.
“Nigerians must intensify the fight against rape and child abuse through stronger judicial system and enforcement of the laws through collaboration with NAPTIP.
“Rapists, she stressed, are not only offenders of the girl child, they are enemies of humanity and destroyers of destinies.
To reduce the rising cases of abuse and rape and to protect our children, I would strongly recommend the following: mandatory background check and profiling for domestic staff drivers lessons teachers caregivers and all persons working closely with children.
“They should be scrutinized before they start work.
“Establishment of child protection units in schools in churches and communities where children can safely report abuse, estates, Mosques, Churches and communities where children can safely report abuse.
“Continuous sensitization and sex education for children to help them understand inappropriate touches as well as how to speak up early.
“Parents must intentionally open relationship with their children so that they can speak freely without fear or intimidation, government should enforce faster prosecution of rape cases and ensure public registration of convicted sex offenders.” She said.
Ambrose continued: “So we have to name and shame them, stronger community surveillance and security systems should be reintroduced in residential estates and public spaces.
“Religious institutions, NGOs media organisations and traditional rulers must to speak loudly against rape and gender based violence.
“NAPTIP should intensify its counselling mechanism, rehabilitation and psychological support should be made available to help survivors heal from trauma.
“Every child deserves safety, every woman deserves dignity and every rapist deserves justice.”
Our foundation, the founder of BEAM foundation added that her organization remains committed to advocating for safer communities, stronger child protection system and a Nigeria where women and children can live free from abuse, molestation and fear.