PROJECTALERT ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

BABY MICHAEL ALVEZ

2017-01-09T08:21:00.001-08:00

Michael Alvez, a child with an infected facial haemangioma was found on the street of Lagos being used by his mother to beg for alms. He was rescued by prominent Nollywood actress, Kate Henshaw and two others, Temitope Oluwagbemi and Aramide Kasunmu. Kate being a Project Alert Ambassador, brought us in for proper organizational management of the case. The four, referred to as THE RESCUERS have been caring for Michael’s medical needs, with financial support from Friends of Kate Henshaw and members of the public.

Michael was first admitted at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH on March 16, 2016 but had to be discharged because of nurses’ strike in June 2016. He was however re-admitted November 2^nd, 2016.

Michael recently clocked two on the 24^th November, 2016 and it was celebrated it in the ward with other children. The journey towards recovery for Michael Alvez has been challenging but the dedication toward his recovery is an unflinching one for Project Alert & other RESCUERS.

EMPOWERING SURVIVORS

2017-01-09T08:21:00.000-08:00

Mrs. Endurance Oguzie a survivor of domestic violence and sexual abuse of her seven year old daughter by their husband and father respectively. She stood up against her husband and his family and sort help and justice for herself and her daughter. Project Alert provided both legal aid and financial support to Endurance. The husband was arrested, prosecuted and jailed; while we supported her with money to enable her start a business that would help feed and care for her four (4) children. Project Alert gave her a cheque of N92,000 to help start a foodstuff business

NFF Press Statement on President Buhari’s Public Misogynistic, Derogatory and Demeaning Comments about His Wife; Aisha Buhari.

2016-10-18T08:56:00.001-07:00

The NFF and its partners, totally reject and condemn in strong terms the comments made by Nigeria’s President Mohammad Buhari on Friday the 14^th of October 2016 in response to his wife’s interview on Hausa Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). Mrs. Aisha Buhari, during the said interview publicly expressed discontent with Mr. President for not living up to expectations. In response to certain statements made by Aisha, President Buhari was quoted by the Associated Press (AP) as saying during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Ms. Angela Merkel, that “his wife should be taking care of his kitchen, living room and the other room” —meaning his bedroom. In his own words, President Buhari said, “I don’t know which party my wife belongs to, but she belongs to my kitchen and my living room and the other room”.

Mr. President’s comment connotes a nostalgic and repugnant invocation of historical patriarchal oppression and subjugation of Nigerian women, which has over the past alienated and denied Nigerian women access and a level playing ground to compete equally with their male counterparts both in public and personal spaces. Need we remind Mr. President about the role and contributions of women in our nation building vis-à-vis the socio-cultural, economic and political development of our beloved Nigeria? We Nigerian women alongside our male counterparts have throughout the history of the development of this country resisted and will continue to resist every attempt made to diminish our contributions to the development of this nation. We will continue to fights against the entrenchment of patriarchal, socio-cultural and religious misogynistic structures that oppress and demean the status of women in our society. This demeaning statement violates right to dignity of every woman, recognised in section 34 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution.

It is notable that Mr. President’s condescending comment relegating his wife’s role exclusively to his ’’kitchen and the other room’’ was made during a state visit to Germany, a first world nation with advanced democracy, headed by a woman (Ms. Angela Merkel). Ms. Merkel serves as a clear example that women can attain to the highest leadership position anywhere in the world if given the right support and opportunity. Ms. Merkel would not have become the German Chancellor if she as a woman was solely relegated to the kitchen or the other room. Ms. Merkel, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Michelle Bachelet, Thersa May, Doris Leuthard and other women in similar position demonstrates that women just like men, are capable of making important decisions in the ‘boardrooms and conference rooms’.

Mr. President Sir, we Nigerian women hereby categorically state that we are no less important than our male citizens. We matter equally. It is inexcusable and utterly condemnable to refer to the first lady of Nigeria and indeed any other woman as belonging to the ’’kitchen’’. It may interest you to know that Nigerian women make up 42.2% of the labour force (World Bank, 2014). Nigerian women contribute close to 70% of agricultural workforce (African Development Bank, 2015). Millions of Nigerian women are entrepreneurs, doctors, engineers, teachers, lawyers, farmers, traders among others. Nigerian women including your wife Aisha, constitute 50% of the country’s population and comments such as yours can never diminish or undermine our status and contribution to national development and growth. Mr, President Sir, your role as a statesman and leader of a polarized country such as ours, connotes that you must never been seen either in public or private to support ideas and positions that stifles 50% of the citizens of the country you head. We equally admonish your follow up comments/confirmation of your earlier position to a journalist that your wife’s sole duty is to ‘take care of you’ is equally unacceptable. We believe that you are not physically disabled or incapacitated to warrant 24hours personal care and if that is the case, may we suggest you seek qualified paid professional care.

Mr. President it is needless to remind you that Aisha your wife, is a highly educated, influential and focused woman, from a family of politicians. We recall her contributions and indeed the contribution of other Nigerian women to the success of the 2015 elections, which ushered in your government. Mrs. Aisha Buhari successfully rallied the support of the mass of Nigerian women who make up approximately 50% of the total number of voters that voted to put your government in power. Need we remind you that women actively participated in political rallies, campaigns, voters’ registration and actual voting exercises. We have not forgotten about the promises you made to women during your election campaign speeches, we are eagerly waiting for you to fulfil them starting from appointing women equally in your ministerial cabinet.

The NFF and its partners are saddened and worried to note that the present political dispensation has the lowest representation of women in public office. Women make up roughly 8% of the overall membership of the legislature and only 7% of ministers currently serving in your cabinet are women. This is against the 31% in the immediate past administration. We wonder if this dismal representation of women in decision making in your government has a direct link to your personal opinion of women and their role in the society. The dismal role of women in decision-making positions in this present administration is extremely discomforting. Nigerian women were even further assaulted by the rejection of the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill (GEOP) by members of Nigeria’s Senate on Tuesday the 15^th of March 2016. The GEOP Bill seeks to guarantee the rights of women to access equal opportunities in employment and education. It also seeks to guarantee equal rights to inheritance for both male and female children.

We note that in other progressive democracies in Africa, in countries like Rwanda women make up 63.8% in the Lower house of Assembly and 38.5% in the senate. In South Africa women represent 41.9% and 35.2% respectively. In Burundi women represent 36.4% in the lower Assembly and 41.9% representation in senate. Even Zimbabwe has 31.5% and 37.5% respectively. In the Nigerian parliament as presently constituted, women represent a dismal 5.6% in the Lower Assembly and 6.5% in the senate. Very far from the agitated 35%, Affirmative Action provided for, in the National Gender Policy 2006.

The NFF and its partners will like to use this medium to commend the courage, sincerity, and audacity of Mrs. Aisha Buhari to speak up, upon sensing that the government is clearly deviating from delivering the electioneering promises it made to Nigerians. Never in our history as a nation have we had a woman in that position use her power to express an opinion that threatens even her personal comfort. We hereby use this medium to call on President Mohammad Buhari to immediately;

· Offer an unreserved public apology to his wife and indeed every Nigerian woman and girls for the disparaging and demeaning misogynistic comment made about confining the role of women in the society solely to the domestics.

· Take concrete actions to demonstrate his government’s commitment to actualizing 35% Affirmative Action in all government institutions, structures and decision-making positions.

· Demonstrate a clear road map of implementing the sustainable development goal especially goal 5 on Gender equality.

· Fulfil every electioneering promise made to Nigerian women and take steps to secure the lives of women and girls especially those in conflict situations.

· Show public support for women’s right and gender equality.

We also call on the leadership of Nigerian legislature, not to relent in its commitment to ensure the immediate passage of the re-introduced Gender and Equal Opportunities bill presently before the senate.

Signed,

Geraldyn Ezeakile

Nigerian Feminist Forum, Secretariat.

(+2348068864475)

Co-signed by; Women Africa (WA), Women Entrepreneurs Association of Nigera (WEAN), Centre for Mmadu on Human Rights (C4M), Alliances for Africa (AfA), Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP), Women Crisis Centre (WCC) Lesley Agams, Equity Advocates (EQ) Echoes of Women In Africa (ECHOES), Arise Nigerian Women Foundation (ANWF), Gender and Development Action (GADA), Media Concern Initiative for Women and Children (MCIWC), Women’s Right and Health Project (WRAHP),Vision Spring Initiatives (VSI), Voice of Eve International (VOI),

About the Nigerian Feminist Forum (NFF)

The Nigerian Feminist Forum (NFF) is a biennial public policy forum that brings together feminists from the six geo-political zones, government officials, and other strategic partners to deliberate on issues of key concern to the development of and emancipation of women in Nigeria. We can be reached via email at;nigerianfeminist@gmail.com, nff@alliancesforafrica.org and via twitter: @nff2008

RE: How My Husband Almost Killed Me After Separation With Three Children

2016-09-23T07:25:00.002-07:00

ProjectAlert V went on a fact finding visit to Ivie Edobor this morning sequel to her story of almost being killed by her estranged husband John Edobor of Zenith Bank. In the team were myself, Benjamin Ocholuje Odeh (Head Legal); Maymunah Garuba Kadiri ( Psychiatric Doctor and Psychologist) who is an associate and Christy Dokubo Adelakun, a friend of the house.

We met Ivie in her living room and there she told us her story. It's very clear that her estranged husband went to her house with criminal intent. After being separated for two years (since 2014), during which time she moved back to her father's house with her three daughters until April this year when she finally got a place of her own; why would he go and wait outside her house up until midnight if he didn't have something up his sleeve? Why did he seat in a nearby bar to buy drinks for area boys while telling them that he stays abroad and rented the house for her and got information that men visit her? He got the sympathies of the area boys with the help of alcohol and they joined him in attacking Ivie and her friend.

For the records, the house is rented and paid for by Ivie ONLY. John had no business lurking around there. He had thrown her out of their matrimonial home in Ajah in 2014 along with their 3 daughters (maybe because she had no son). She moved on. He too moved on (or so she thought) as according to Ivie he now lives with a woman and even sent her some pictures. SO WHY STALK HER AND ATTEMPT KILLING HER?
The case has been charged to court and Project Alert will be hold watching brief. We invite as many NGOs as possible to join us.

How My Husband Almost Killed Me After Separation With Three Children

2016-09-20T07:21:00.000-07:00

You might be experiencing domestic violence if you’re in a relationship with someone who calls you unprintable names, insults you or puts you down, Prevents or discourages you from seeing family members or friends or threatens you with violence or a weapon, hits, kicks, shoves, slaps, chokes or otherwise hurts you, your children or your pets. But In the case of Ivie Edobor who left the husband and moved on with her life, what is so shocking is that Ivie’s exhusband came one early in the morning when she was approaching her new home in the early hours of the day, after a night out.
The ex-husband John Edobor laid in wait, attacked her and her male friend. In the real sense of law, this is grievous bodily harm GBH, common assault against Ivie and her friend.
Read her own story:
Ivie Edobor is a mother of three, she has taken to social media to narrate what she went through in the hands of her husband, John Edobor, she wrote:
Dear friend, To shed more light on my ordeal, this is my story. Two years ago my husband kick me out of his house along with my 3 daughters ages 9, 7 and 4.
I was forced to move back to my father’s house and struggled to provide for my 3 children as he completely neglected them and even took them of his medical insurance provided by his office Zenith Bank Plc. After much struggle, I finally got back on my feet. Got a great job, enrolled my kids in a new school and rented an apartment for my 3 kids and I. About Easter time this year he decides he was to be part of my children’s life again.

I allowed him access to the children as I felt we could be civil to each other for the sake of our children. At this time I had started putting my documentation together for the divorce process. Early hours of June 19th on my way back from a function, a friend had parked right in front of the gate of my apartment to press the bell for the gateman to open the gate and let me into the compound when suddenly he was rushed at and attacked by a man waving an object. The first impression was that it was an armed robber trying to rob us. My friend(a man) pushed he away but he came charging back; at this point I looked out the opened door and realized it was John Edobor my estrange husband. Before we could react a group of area boys showed up but rather than saving us from the assailant, they joined him.

The proceeded to be my friend on the floor giving John the opportunity to focus his attack on me. He used a metal bar(wheel spanner/ metal rod) to try hitting me on the head through the opened drivers door but I shielded it. Not satisfied with that, he turned to the passengers door dragged out to the floor. I landed on the floor with my legs extended where he proceeded to hit me on the leg continuously with the metal. When he was satisfied he was about going back to join the area boys who had gathered my friend when my neighbour who had heard my screams for help and seen from his window a man striking someone on the floor thinking it was an armed robber, numbed down his balcony with a machete to save whoever was being attacked. On getting down he was faced with my estrange husband whom he had prevented from entering my compound without my permission on 2 occasions so he recognized him. It was at that point he overpowered John.

The area boys recognized him as a member of the security team for the street and backed off my friend. By that time I couldn’t stand up and my leg was bleeding profusely. I was rushed to the hospital where my jeans was torn off my leg to see the nature of my injury. The injury was so severe that my broken bone torn through my skin puncturing an artery in the process. Almost 3 months and 2 surgeries later, I have titanium plates and screws to keep my leg in place and I am unable to use my right leg. I still have my 3 children to care for and my life is at a stand still. The perpetrator was charged to court and released on bail 3 days later. Now he moves around freely carrying on with his life. Now is it wrong for me to cry for Justice.

Source Dee Report

PRESS CONFERENCE ON BABY MICHAEL ALVEZ’s FIGHT WITH FACIAL HAEMANGIOMA

2016-08-03T04:28:00.000-07:00

Good morning ladies and gentlemen of the press.

On behalf of Project Alert on Violence Against Women, Temitope Oluwagbemi and Aramide Kasunmu, I welcome you all to this press conference on baby Michael Alvez’s fight with facial haemangioma.

On March 16^th, Kate Henshaw rescued very sick baby Michael and his mother of the streets of Lagoswith the help of two individuals named Mr. Temitope Oluwagbemi and Ms. Aramide Kasunmu, and got both mother and child admitted into LUTH. Kate an Ambassador of Project Alert, immediately called the Executive Director of Project Alert, Mrs. Josephine Effah-Chukwuma to intimate her on it and request Project Alert’s active involvement in the case.

On March 18^th all parties met at LUTH, and had a meeting with Dr. Mofikoya, the consultant attending to baby Michael. Michael was diagnosed with ulcerated, infected facial haemangioma caused by vascular malfunction, worsened by the fact that night and day, sun and rain, his mother Mary was on the road with him, begging for help. Facial haemangioma is a benign condition (non-cancerous). The doctor informed us then, that Michael would have to be on admission for an initial one month for further tests to be carried out, and treatment to commence. That immediately raised the question: ‘’How would Baby Michael’s hospitalization and medical treatment be funded’’. It was at that point that the RESCUERS (Kate Henshaw, Project Alert, Temitope and Aramide) commenced a public fund raising to help keep Michael and his mother in hospital and pay the hospital bills. A dedicated account known as Project Alert. Baby Michael, was opened for donations.

Same day Baby Michael was admitted in LUTH, the Lagos State Social Welfare department, was notified. They referred us to the Social Welfare office in LUTH, headed by Mrs. Funmi Doherty. We had meetings with her and jointly we commenced work on seeing to the welfare and medical treatment of baby Michael in LUTH.

We would like to thank members of the public who donated their widow’s mite to help treat Michael. Your kind donations helped in paying hospital bills for the three (3) months Michael was on admission in LUTH, until when we had to take him out on June 20^th, when nurses commenced strike action. Till date the strike is still on. We had to take Michael to Project Alert Shelter for continued care and close monitoring and strict adherence to administration of drugs and hospital appointment

WHY DID WE HAVE TO DO THAT YOU MAY ASK? WHY DIDN’T MICHAEL’s MOTHER, MARY TAKE HIM HOME AND CONTINUE CARING FOR HIM, APPRECIATIVE OF THE FACT THAT A GROUP OF PEOPLE HAD TAKEN UP HIS MEDICAL CARE?

This brings us to the concerns we have about the ability of Mary and her family to care for Michael, and whether it wouldn’t be best for Michael to be placed in a home. The concerns are as follows:

1. Mary since last year had been begging on the streets of Lagos Island with the baby, claiming to seek financial help to enable her seek treatment for her son. She was even aired on Television Continental, TVC sometime in Nov/Dec 2015, which resulted in people donating. One single donation of N450k by a lady stood out. So how come Mary was still on the street with the child till March 2016 when Kate Henshaw and Temitope Oluwagbemi saw her? Why wasn’t the baby in hospital?

2. While in hospital, we received reports from other mothers in the ward and the nurses about Mary’s restlessness and aggressiveness to all including her baby. On April 24^th, she fought a hospital maid and threatened to burn down the ward. Mary is a commercial sex worker and got pregnant with Michael in the course of work. She felt caged in the hospital. She was sent out of the ward by the matron and nurses, and we had to beg that she be allowed in, after she promised to be of good behaviour.

3. In same April, we went visiting the home address in Ikorodu that Mary gave us. We met her aged mother and brothers, all with no visible sign of means of livelihood. We found out that Mary had 3 other children, and was in the practice of disappearing from home for months,getting pregnant along the line, delivering the children and coming back home to dump them with her aged mother, who has a bad leg.

4. On the night of June 9^th, she walked out of the hospital, leaving her baby behind. In the early hours of June 10^th, we received a call from the ward that baby Michael had been abandoned by his mother. Immediately we called the hospital Social Welfare department and her senior sister Syndi. We gathered at the hospital and met with Mrs. Doherty, Head Social Welfare, LUTH, where it was decided that Mary not be allowed back into the ward and the family pleaded that their mother and a 16 year old niece come stay with Michael in the ward instead. As the meeting was going on, Mary appeared very dirty and smelling.

5. On June 20^th, about a week after LUTH nurses had commenced their strike, we had to go pick Michael and mama from the ward, as all patients had been discharged and they were the last people remaining. Not wanting a roll back on the medical gains we had made on Michael’s health, and with a mother more interested in prostitution, we had to decide to take Michael to Project Alert shelter, where he still is with mama (his grandmother as his carer). This has moved our initial mission from only caring for Michael’s medical needs to feeding and housing Michael, mama and the 16 year old who assists mama in running around (going to market etc).

The road to full recovery is a long one for baby Michael. At the last hospital appointment we had with Dr. Mofikoya on Thursday July 21^st, he stated that taking out the growth through surgery will leave a hole on Michael's face as according to him,the tissue under the growth is abnormal. He said the tissue is not healthy and that is why surgery is not a good option at LUTH. The treatment plan he thus has for Michael is continued administration of the drugsPropanolol (tablet) and Nylol Gel (cream)for gradual compression and shrinking. But that according to him, will take a long process. He used an example of a patient (a boy) he has been treating since the child was a baby and the child is now 10yrs and they are still on it. He said that is the treatment they can give Baby Michael in LUTH.

Thus with this long road to discovery for Michael; a clearly unfit mother; a grandmother who is not strong enough and capable of caring for Michael; and the need for good and hygienic management of Michael’s ailment, WHERE SHOULD MICHAEL BE PLACED? WHO SHOULD CARE FOR MICHAEL? We the RESCUERS are committed to baby Michael’s medical costs. However the social welfare issues surrounding his mother, circumstances of birth, and the family in general are HUGE.

Thank you and GOD BLESS.

Project Alert on Violence Against Women support child victim of Domestic violence

2016-06-05T04:11:00.000-07:00

Project Alert on Violence Against Women with support from Mrs. Oby Ezekweshili, former Federal Minister provided financial assistance to an indigent family in Ikorodu. Our attention was drawn to the Abiade's family by a concerned citizen who reported that the 6 year old daughter of the family, was being battered regularly by biological mother. Upon investigation, it was discovered that the mother was facing severe financial challenges which made her to be intolerant and violent to her 6year old child. Based on the report received, Mrs Oby Ezekweshili, who is very passionate about issues bordering on violence against women and young girls, decided to support the family with some money to help boost the family income and empower the woman, so that financial handicap would not be a reason for her abusing her child physically.

Press Conference On The Death Of Dr. Hestianna Idiodi-Thomas

2015-10-29T05:33:00.000-07:00

Concerned Women Voices

October 29, 2015

Ladies and gentlemen of the press, you are welcome to this Press Conference being organized by Concerned Women Voices to ask pertinent questions on #WhatHappenedToDrThomas, the young female Consultant Paediatrician and mother of two who died as a result of fatal injuries sustained in her home.

Concerned Women Voices is a coalition of women rights organizations, professional women, and female celebrities who are concerned about the seeming increase in cases of violent incidences affecting women and girls both in private and public life.

Last week Friday, the social media was agog with reports of suspected acts of domestic violence that resulted in the death of Dr. (Mrs) Hestianna Idiodi-Thomas, a Consultant Paediatrician with Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH. The reports stated that the late doctor was rushed into the Accident and Emergency Ward of LUTH in the early hours of Tuesday October 13^th with injuries on her head and other bruises. At the hospital, she was declared dead. While the social media and the print media reported suspected acts of domestic violence as having led to the young doctor’s death, speculations attributed to the Nigerian Medical Association and the Medical Women Association stated that it was a case of suicide. The speculations said Dr. Idiodi Thomas was a ‘’psychiatric patient, who did not seek medical attention’’.

As Concerned Women Voices, we are not interested in hearsay and speculations but the FACTS. We do not want the truth to die with Dr. Idiodi-Thomas. We want her dead body to tell the true story of what happened in her home that fateful night/morning.

The facts as we know it are as follows:

1. The unfortunate incident occurred at her residence.

2. Dr. Babafemi Thomas, her husband was the last to see her alive (the night before) and first to see her fatally injured in the early hours of the morning.

3. She was rushed to the hospital by her husband, Dr. Babafemi Thomas where she was declared dead.

4. According to the police she had marks on her body, suggestive of violence. Also colleagues at the hospital said she had a fractured skull and her head was swollen and unrecognizable.

5. Up on till three days before the incident, colleagues of hers said she was at work.

6. Some parents whose children she treated and operated upon have commented on her dedication to work and her cheeriness.

With these facts in mind, we as Concerned Women Voices have the following questions to ask:

· If Dr. Idiodi-Thomas was indeed a ‘’psychiatric patient’’ how sick was she? And why was she still allowed to treat patients (sick children) up until 3 days before her death?

· As a medical doctor and husband to a mentally sick person, what conscious effort did Dr. Babafemi Thomas take to ensure that the wife comes to no harm, and that she was seeking medical attention?

· Why are there three versions out there as to how she ‘’committed suicide’’? Version one she jumped from the balcony. Version two: the husband found her in front of their bedroom door; and version three, she jumped from the water tanker.

· As husband, care giver and a medical doctor living with a ‘’psychiatric patient’’, didn’t Dr. Babafemi Thomas think he has the responsibility of ensuring that all doors are carefully locked and keys kept away, to prevent possible suicidal acts as being projected here?

· Have the neighbours been spoken to about the way and manner the couple lived and if they had on any occasion heard noises or fights from their flats?

· Has it been confirmed that if the Thomases lived on the ground floor or first/second floor of the building in order to ascertain the jump down theory?

· Did Dr. Babafemi Thomas in shock cry out for help and assistance from neighbours when he found his wife unresponsive, severely injured and almost dead?

· Living in a compound of 5-6 flats, and Dr. Idiodi-Thomas having jumped from her flat or from the water tank, how come other neighbours didn’t didn’t hear a fall or a big sound that could have attracted them to come out?

· As doctors, is it not unethical to divulge patient information as the NMA has quickly done in the case of one of their own?

We believe the NMA and LUTH are compromised in this instance. They are interested parties and as such, should step aside for an INDEPENDENT AUTOPSY AND CORONER’S INQUEST TO BE CARRIED OUT. They cannot sit and judge on one of their own. We are therefore calling for a thorough unbiased police investigation into the questionable and violent death of this young female doctor.

We are specifically calling for THE CONSTITUTION OF AN INDEPENDENT GROUP OF PATHOLOGISTS, IF POSSIBLE FROM OUTSIDE LAGOS STATE, TO CONDUCT A FRESH AUTOPSY.

We are indeed concerned about the seeming increase in reported cases of women being injured or dying in their homes under questionable circumstances. The home should not be a battle field of sorts. It should be a safe place for every man, woman and child.

Signed

Concerned Women Voices

Project Alert provides accommodation support to victim's family

2015-09-17T04:15:00.000-07:00

Mr. Okechukwu Okiki a father of a 3 year child who was sexually abused by a neighbour ran to Project Alert for help. Though he reported the matter to the police promptly, the police tried forcing a out of court settlement with him, which he refused. Project Alert took up his matter, accompanied to the police station; provided him free legal aid; and gave him a loan to rent a new accommodation away from the area the incident had happened. The perpetrator was arrested, prosecuted and jailed. Mr. Okiki started a new life in his new home, with his family.

PRESS RELEASE AGAINST REPORT OF NGOs AGAINST ABORTION BY PREGNANT FEMALE VICTIMS OF BOKO HARAM

2015-05-17T15:03:00.000-07:00

Project Alert's attention was drawn to an on line report in The Herald Newspaper of today May 17th in which a so called coalition of NGOs in Lagos known as the Foundation for African Heritage, FACH, stated that it is "unreasonable and illogical for the girls to subject the girls to a traumatic, violent and life threatening abortion process. This statement was made by the the Director of FACH, Mr. Sonnie Ekwowusi while donating some cash to NEMA to assist with the girls rehabilitation.

The donation made by FACH does not give them the right to decide what is in the best interest of the girls who have been subjected to months of unimaginable physical, sexual and psychological terror. What greater trauma, violence and life threatening situation can the women/girls face than what they were subjected to during the months of their captivity?

Why do we we always play politics with the lives of women and girls? The decision whether to have abortion or not is the EXCLUSIVE DECISION of the girls in close consultations with their immediate families. NON OF US have the faintest clue of the extent and depth of physical and psychological pain and torture these girls and their families went through, thus NON OF US have the right to decide for them.

This is indeed the ONE TIME, these girls would have to decide through put this nightmarish experience. They never decided to be kidnapped. They never decided to be raped brutally and severally by their abductors; and for sure they never decided to get pregnant. THIS IS THE ONE TIME THEY GET TO DECIDE.

THE law on abortion in Nigeria definitely does not hold water in this case. So also should religious sentiments not hold sway. For once as a people let's be real and not hypocritical. For as many of the girls who want to keep the pregnancy should be supported to do so; and for as many who want to abort it, should be supported to do so. THIS IS NOT THE TIME OR OCCASION FOR POLITICS OF ANY KIND.

Signed

Josephine Effah-Chukwuma
Executive Director
Project Alert on Violence Against Women

Unmarried 60-year-old bricklayer rapes pupil

2015-01-19T01:26:00.000-08:00

A 60-year-old bricklayer, Segun Benson, has been accused of raping a primary six pupil on Mommoh Street in the Agege area of Lagos State.

In the course of the rape, the victim’s private parts were said to have been damaged.

Benson, who has an aged mother, was said to have never been married, while attempts by his mother to get him a wife had continually been turned down.

After he allegedly ravished the victim, he was said to have sent her out, despite the flow of blood from her private parts.

Residents were said to have sighted the victim in a public bathroom writhing in pain.

After bleeding from her private parts for a while, the 14-year-old was said to have collapsed.

She reportedly told concerned residents that Segun tricked her into his room with N50 and raped her.

When PUNCH Metro visited the area on Wednesday, he met a group of relatives still discussing the incident.

A resident and an eyewitness, who identified herself simply as Iya Egun, told PUNCH Metro she initially thought the victim was having her menstrual flow.

She said, “I saw her writhing in pain in a bathroom. She said she wanted to defecate, but I saw blood coming out of her private parts.

“I raised the alarm and when other people arrived at the scene, she said it was Segun that raped her.”

A relative, Okunloye Kehinde, said the victim’s private parts had been damaged.

He said, “I got a call around 2pm that fateful Saturday. When I got there, I saw a crowd of people around her. I saw a container filled with blood. Even her clothes were drenched in blood.”

Kehinde said he went with the victim’s father to report the incident at the Elere Police Division.

The police, in company with some relatives of the victim, arrested the suspect in his house.

Our correspondent spoke with the victim who walked with some difficulty.

She said, “I am in primary six. On Friday, he gave me N50 to buy sweet for myself. He then asked me to caress his private parts. When I told him I would tell my daddy, he said I should not go home.

“He took me to his house around Railway Line where he raped me. I was there from 3pm till around 7pm. I started bleeding from his house and when I got home the blood did not stop. But I kept it secret until Saturday when people saw it.”

Her mother, Taibat, said she had never met the suspect before.

“I have seven kids and she is the third child. I was sleeping when people called me that my daughter had been raped. I have never met the man before though he lives on the street. The government should take over the case and do what is right,” she said.

Our correspondent reached out to the suspect’s mother, Mrs. Tinuke Benson, who is in her nineties.

The woman, while fighting back tears, pleaded with PUNCH Metro to intervene on her behalf because the suspect was her only son.

She said, “Segun is my only child. I had four other children and they are all dead. He is the reason for my living. I don’t know why he did what he did.

“Each time I tried to get him a wife, he refused and told me he was old enough to look for a woman for himself. He said that many times without getting a wife. Please help me because he’s my hope.”

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Kenneth Nwosu, said the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba.

He said, “The victim has also been taken to the hospital for necessary tests and the suspect is in custody.”

Source: Punch

‘UNILAG graduate’ rapes nine-year-old, flees

2015-01-10T01:22:00.000-08:00

December 2, 2014 was a sad day for Mrs. Bilikis Balogun. That day, she learnt that her innocent nine-year-old girl, Nofisat, had been sexually assaulted by their 30-year-old neighbour, Ikechukwu Obasi, while she was in the market.

“He has fled his apartment since the incident. But I just want him to face justice and get punishment for what he did to my daughter,” she said.

“I have never thought that the man could do that to my daughter. He was such a friendly person in our compound. All I know about him is that he is a ‘Yahoo-Yahoo guy’ (a description for young men who specialise in internet fraud).

According to Bilikis, she was in the market when her daughter came crying, and told her the story about how their neighbour took advantage of her at their 83, Aina Street, Pako Aguda home, in Surulere, Lagos.

Nofisat, a quiet and shy girl, whose eyes showed the painful memory of the experience she had gone through, told our correspondent that she did not suspect anything when Ikechukwu came into the room where she was reading in their apartment and gave her a N1,000 note to go and buy food for him.

She said, “I bought the food and took it to him. But because the food vendor did not give me back N850 change, he said I should go back and collect it. When I brought the change back to him, he locked the door.

“He then used a cloth to cover my mouth and I could not shout. He then carried me to the bed and did it. When he finished and I was bleeding, he said I should not tell anybody.”

Ikechukwu

Later that afternoon, the girl narrated what Ikechukwu did to her to another resident of the compound, who spotted her crying in front of Ikechukwu’s room.

The neighbour told her to go and report the incident to her mother in the market.

But by the time they got back, Ikechukwu had locked his room and fled. He has not been seen since then.

Ikechukwu’s phone number which was provided to our correspondent, has not been available as well.

However, our correspondent visited his Facebook page with the name Eyekay Da Stika Obasi, where he posted photos up until January 2, 2015. He had yet to respond to a message sent to him as of the time of filing this report.

Ikechukwu’s Facebook page states that he attended the University of Lagos and studied Psychology even though this could not be verified as a result of the fact that he did not state when he graduated.

The case was reported at the Aguda Police Division, Surulere, but the police said they had been unable to take any action because the culprit had fled.

However, Ikechukwu’s family had approached Nofisat’s family, pleading to pay monetary compensation to settle the matter.

“How can they tell me they want to pay N40,000 so that I would forget my daughter was raped? All I want is justice for my daughter. They have refused to produce the man,” Nofisat’s mother said.

When our correspondent spoke with the investigating police officer in charge of the case, he explained that he was still on the trail of Ikechukwu.

“We cannot refer to the case as a rape, it is defilement. But in the meantime, the two families are trying to settle. I have asked the family of the victim to come to my office but they have not come,” the IPO, who pleaded anonymity, said.

Child Rights Activist, Mrs. Esther Ogwu, has called upon the police to do more than just tell the family of the suspect to produce him.

She said, “The police should do a thorough job of tracking down the young man. Who knows the kind of fetish thing he might have done to the girl?

“This is a lesson to parents to be wary of neighbours they leave their children alone with.”

Source: Punch

Imam rapes 22-year-old, shaves hairs in Ogun

2015-01-08T01:23:00.000-08:00

An Imam, Rabiu Abdulquadri, has been arrested by the Ogun State Police Command for shaving the pubic hair of a 22-year-old-girl and collecting her nails under the pretext of preparing a favour charm for her.

The Imam was also accused of raping the victim, Elizabeth (pseudonym), in his house in Abule-Ojo, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area, Ogun State

PUNCH Metro learnt that Abduquadri, popularly known as Alfa Cisse, approached the victim, who was returning from her place of work around 8.30pm on December 28.

The Imam was said to have stopped the victim at a roundabout in the Ofada area of the state, claiming he had a vision about her.

He was said to have ordered her to join an on-going prayer in his mosque before he could reveal the vision.

Elizabeth, who claimed she succumbed to Alfa Cisse’s bidding unconsciously, said he took her to his apartment after she dropped her luggage at home.

In the night, the cleric allegedly instructed her to strip herself naked and shaved strands of hair in her head, armpit and private parts, after which he had a carnal knowledge of her.

It was also learnt that he told her to come back for a charm that would bring favour to her the following day.

When our correspondent visited the victim on Wednesday, she said, “He and some clerics prayed for me. In the night, he woke me up, collected my nails, hairs and slept with me not minding my menstrual discharge. He said he would use them to prepare a charm for me to get favour.

“I did not realise what I was doing untill the next day when I returned home and my sister scolded me for not sleeping at home. That was when it occurred to me that I had been used.

“He even demanded more hairs when I got there the following day. Since then, I have been feeling weak and I can’t sleep in the night.”

Elizabeth’s uncle, Mr. Oluwaseun Idowu, said he had spent a lot of money on the victim, whose health reportedly aggravated after the encounter with the cleric.

Idowu said he eventually located the Imam’s house after which policemen from the Owode Police Division arrested him.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Alfa Cisse confessed to the police that he actually took the girl’s pubic hairs, although he denied having sex with her.

The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the incident.

He said, “The suspect was paraded by the state Commissioner of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye, today (Wednesday).

“He will be charged to court soon.”

Source: Punch

Over 500 child defilement cases reported in Lagos State in 2014, says AG

2014-12-10T01:46:00.000-08:00

Lagos – Mr Ade Ipaye, Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, on Wednesday, said over 500 cases of child defilement cases were reported in the state this year.

Ipaye disclosed this at a Human Rights Essay and Debate Competition organised for private and public schools in Lagos by the Directorate for Citizen’s Rights.

The competiotion was part of activities marking the 2014 World Human Rights Day with the theme: “The Rights of the Child.’’

The commissioner said “this year’s theme was carefully picked in the light of the fact that in the last one year, more than 500 cases of defilement of minors were reported in Lagos.

“We know that children contend with several challenges on daily basis, however, the onus is on parents and guardians to ensure that each child is given necessary care and attention.’’

Ipaye said that the principle of human rights should be inculcated in the youths at their earliest formative stage.

He added that this would ensure that youths imbibed the principles of fairness, non-discrimination, inclusiveness and respect for fellow-beings, irrespective of age.

The Lagos State attorney-general said that the success of all the laws and policies protecting the rights of children depended largely on the cooperation of members of the society.

“I will like to use the opportunity of this occasion to enjoin all residents to partner with government in ensuring that the rights of our children are safeguarded,’’ he pleaded.

In her lecture, a human rights lawyer, Mrs Funmi Falana, said that the Child Rights Act 2003 had not been domesticated in 12 states of the federation.

Falana urged government at all levels to intensify efforts at improving the standard of education through effective funding, sound and workable policies.

She said “children’s education in Nigeria is nothing to boast about. Education is beginning to become commercialised.

“Pondering over the state of the Nigerian child, my heart aches because of the environment they are living and the state of their education.

“Some of these children roam the streets with tattered clothes, with no help from any quarter, some do not even believe in education again but I believe all these can be corrected with the help of government.’’ (NAN)

Lagos – Mr Ade Ipaye, Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, on Wednesday, said over 500 cases of child defilement cases were reported in the state this year.
Ipaye disclosed this at a Human Rights Essay and Debate Competition organised for private and public schools in Lagos by the Directorate for Citizen’s Rights.
The competiotion was part of activities marking the 2014 World Human Rights Day with the theme: “The Rights of the Child.’’
The commissioner said “this year’s theme was carefully picked in the light of the fact that in the last one year, more than 500 cases of defilement of minors were reported in Lagos.
“We know that children contend with several challenges on daily basis, however, the onus is on parents and guardians to ensure that each child is given necessary care and attention.’’
Ipaye said that the principle of human rights should be inculcated in the youths at their earliest formative stage.
He added that this would ensure that youths imbibed the principles of fairness, non-discrimination, inclusiveness and respect for fellow-beings, irrespective of age.
The Lagos State attorney-general said that the success of all the laws and policies protecting the rights of children depended largely on the cooperation of members of the society.
“I will like to use the opportunity of this occasion to enjoin all residents to partner with government in ensuring that the rights of our children are safeguarded,’’ he pleaded.
In her lecture, a human rights lawyer, Mrs Funmi Falana, said that the Child Rights Act 2003 had not been domesticated in 12 states of the federation.
Falana urged government at all levels to intensify efforts at improving the standard of education through effective funding, sound and workable policies.
She said “children’s education in Nigeria is nothing to boast about. Education is beginning to become commercialised.
“Pondering over the state of the Nigerian child, my heart aches because of the environment they are living and the state of their education.
“Some of these children roam the streets with tattered clothes, with no help from any quarter, some do not even believe in education again but I believe all these can be corrected with the help of government.’’ (NAN)
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/12/500-child-defilement-cases-reported-lagos-state-2014-says-ag/#sthash.YqZxnNJO.dpuf

Man flees home after raping daughter

2014-12-08T00:51:00.000-08:00

The police are on the trail of a 50-year-old man, Vincent Uzor, who is on the run after allegedly raping his 14-year-old daughter.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the victim was raped last week Tuesday in the Ebute Meta area of Lagos State where Uzor lived with his second wife.

It was gathered that the victim’s mother died about seven years ago after which she started living with her grandmother.

However, when the old woman became plagued with ill health, she was said to have been taken to the Ogijo area of Ogun State, where she stayed with an aunt.

But the aunt, three weeks ago, reportedly sent her to her father in Ebute Meta, saying she wanted to travel.

The Primary four pupil in an interview with our correspondent said her father defiled her while she was in the kitchen.

She said, “My mother died seven years ago. I did not know my father because I grew up with my grandmother. It was when I was 12 years old that I was told I had a father.

“Three weeks ago, my aunty told me I would stay with my father for a few days because she was travelling and did not want to leave me alone at home. That was how I went to stay with my father.

“On Tuesday, around 6.30pm, my father asked me to warm the soup on the stove. He suddenly followed me inside the kitchen and shut the door. I thought he wanted to cane me, and I started begging him.

“Instead, he removed his clothes and pulled my skirt and paints. Then he had sex with me. It was painful and blood gushed out from my private parts. He then said he was sorry.”

The victim said her father gave her N500 for treatment after she complained of pains in her legs.

She added that he took her to a traditional doctor who prescribed some concoction for her.

“My father told me he wanted to travel. I used the money he gave me to buy recharge cards and I called my elder brother and some other people to tell them what happened to me,” she said.

However, before the police could arrive at the scene, Uzor was said to have fled the house.

The victim was reportedly taken to Ogijo, where the matter got to the attention of the Ogun State Coordinator of the Centre for Defence of Human Rights, Mrs. Toyosi Bello.

Bello accused the police of trying to cover up the incident.

She said, “The Denton Police Division wanted to muddle up the matter and I decided to take the case to Nigerians. This girl is almost an orphan and needs help, but the police are trying to compound her problems.”

Our correspondent learnt that the victim and Bello were later connected with a human rights organisation, Project Alert on Violence against Women.

The Coordinator of the group, Mrs. Josephine Effah-Chukwuma, said the 14-year-old had been taken to the hospital for treatment.

She said, “When she got here, we did a referral letter to Mirabel Centre, which is a subsidiary of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital. Some medical tests were carried out on her and drugs were given to her.

“She is in our custody in the interim because she cannot go back to either her aunt or father. We discovered her aunt had been physically abusing her. We saw scars all over her body. The aunt then sent her to her father who further sexually abused her.”

Effah-Chukwuma said the group had petitioned the police authorities because the case was not given the attention it deserved, adding that the Denton Police Division had been “notorious in terms of how they respond to sexual abuse cases.”

A letter, dated December 4 and addressed to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, claimed that the policemen handling the case connived with Uzor’s second wife to rubbish it.

It added that the Lagos State Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Women Affairs (Child Department) had been notified.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Kenneth Nwosu, told our correspondent that the police had commenced investigations, adding that justice would be served.

He said, “The case was reported at the station. The division has not closed the matter.

“It is presently under investigation and I am aware the father of the girl is not around.

“The matter is now at the SCID.”

Source

Rise in rape of minors: Commissioner raises alarm

2014-12-04T01:53:00.000-08:00

The Plateau State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development has raised alarm over the increasing rate of rape of minors in the State and appeals to parents of victims to stop covering up such act due to shame but come forward to report same as rape is a criminal offense against the State.

The Ministry’s Commissioner, Mrs. Sarah Yusuf, who spoke with Vanguard Metro, VM, through the Ministry’s Director of Child Welfare, Mr. Gwamfar Kannap, decried the alarming increase in the rape of minors by older men, a situation only heard about in far places.

The Commissioner who attributed the increase to drunkenness, rituals and other factors further lamented the unwillingness of parents and relations of victims to come forward with timely information due to fear of stigmatisation, ignorance and shame despite series of sensitization campaign. She stated that in recent months, the Ministry has received over 10 cases involving girls between the ages of five and 15 with the suspected rapists being between the ages of 30 and 70.

Mrs. Yusuf added that it is worrisome that the nefarious act is not limited to tribe or religion because those arrested cut across the adherents of Muslim, Christian religions and the traditionalists.

According to the Commissioner: “It is alarming the rate of reported cases of rape of minors in the State in recent weeks. We never really have this problem in the past, this is a new phenomenon and it is becoming a problem for us.

“Many factors are contributing to it. One of these is traditional medicine. Some believe that if you have HIV and you sleep with a girl who is a virgin, you will be cured. Some see that as a way of advancing their political ambitions. There are the issues of poverty and drugs we need to also be addressed.”

Successful prosecution

Meanwhile, the Commissioner stressed that “so far, one person has been successfully prosecuted and jailed, seven cases are pending in various courts and three persons are currently in detention.”

However, recent cases in the Corner Shagari area of Jos North involving a teenage girl and six men, that involving a three-year old and a middle aged man at Tudun Wada area of the local government as well as that of a five year old girl and a man in his 30s at Bukuru in Jos South local government area among several that necessitated an alarm being raised.

The State Police Command through the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Abuh Emmanuel confirmed there has been increase in the reports of rape cases from across the State, saying that “there is increase awareness that rape is a serious crime. We are arresting, investigating and prosecuting suspects because we want to sound a warning to others to desist from such criminal act.”

Source

Man, 27, rapes 11-yr-old girl with Down’s Syndrome

2014-12-04T01:49:00.000-08:00

BENIN—A 27-year-old man, Austin Okonkwo, has been remanded in prison custody by an Evboriaria Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ikpoba-Okha, Edo State, for allegedly raping an 11-year-old Down Syndrome girl.

The accused, who was described with unprintable words when his victim was presented in the court, pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge preferred against him.

Police Prosecutor, Aigbedion Obakpolor, informed the court that the offence was committed on November 29.

When the case was mentioned, Chief Magistrate Frank Idiake, who refused the bail application, said rape cases were on the increase.

A relative of the victim, who pleaded anonymity after the court sitting, said the accused took the girl to his room where the act was committed.

The relative said the victim cried of pains in her private part, which led to the arrest of the accused.

The case was adjourned to January 21, 2015 for continuation of trial.

Source

Ogun court remands man, 32, over rape

2014-12-03T00:54:00.000-08:00

A Letter to Bokoharam by Heart Broken Nigerian Women

2014-12-02T00:53:00.000-08:00

Dear Management and staff of Bokoharam,

Our hearts are full of sadness and pain as we write you today dated 2nd December, 2014. We are fully convinced that you will see, read, and reflect over the content of this letter. We stand in the gap for ALL Nigerian Women representing every female baby, child, girl and adult. We could as well pass for your mothers, sisters, wives and daughters because we know for sure that you have women in your individual lives.

It is a well known fact globally that women bear the brunt of violence and terrorism and this has been the glaring case in Nigeria since you came on the scene with your violent strategies that has practically rendered our Northern States incapacitated.

We have suffered exorbitantly from the venom of your anger and violence that we are left in awe of what you really want from all these. You have maimed, murdered, slaughtered and killed our children, husbands and relations like rams in the abattoirs.

We have been thrown into consistent mourning, weeping and gnashing of teeth from the deep seated wounds you have engraved in our hearts and in this moment of despair we silently wish we had not given birth to you. We do not communicate this wish but that is how we feel. Sure, if you were not born, we would have had a society without bokoharam.

How happy we were when we were told that we were pregnant for you? We were so happy and our joy knew no bounds when we announced your presence to your fathers. We celebrated, danced and made merry at your birth because we thought we were blessed with male children whom used to be the pride of our nation. We were very proud to be called Uwar, Mama, and Iya – Shekau, Mohammed, Sani, Murktar, Obere etc.

Today, the sadness in our Spirit has deleted the happiness and curiosity we felt when we carried you in our wombs for 9 months. We are even deeply saddened when we see your age groups who have made Nigeria proud by standing out in the crowd like the shining amour.

Now, you will want to defend your actions by saying you were not given equal grounds. You could even argue that it is one of the reasons why you are fighting. The truth is that they faced their own challenges as well but refused to succumb to the dark path of terrorism which you have chosen.

You even said you are fighting for God but any God who cannot fight for him/herself is definitely not qualified to be God. The God we serve is meant to fight for us not the other way around. How can you, a mere mortal fight for an immortal God?

Your actions against us are far hurting than the pain and labour of child birth. Remember, when you kidnapped the CHIBOK girls? We went crazy, many of us died imagining what our daughters were going through in your hands. We walked the streets of Nigeria calling for their release.

Some of us even walked naked with tears streaming down our eyes and breasts but all fell on your deaf ears. The whole world joined in the campaign but mercy did not touch your hearts to release the girls. We can’t believe, we gave birth to you.

Till today, the girls left in your custody will continue to be the memories of the carnage of your destruction forever. You boldly told us that you have married them off. Married them off to whom? Many of them are already pregnant with your breeds that definitely will carry on your nefarious acts.

Will you truly rejoice when those children are born knowing you have sacrificed their lives in the altar of darkness? How happy will you be when someone else kidnap your children and marry them off without your consent? Don’t you know that what ever comes around goes around?

At will, you bombed the market places being fully aware we are always at the markets struggling to make a living for our children. You bombed the schools at will being fully aware that our children are there. At will you bombed the churches and the mosques being fully aware that we are always there praying for our families which includes you. You have destroyed our homes and made us refugees in our own country and we now live off charities.

The war you have declared on Nigeria is actually war against WOMEN. What did we do to deserve these? What really is your intention? We know. Yes, you thought that by declaring war against Women that the government will surrender to you? You are absolutely wrong.

Do you not see that irrespective of your nefarious acts that the government hardly pays attention other than send few words of condolences to us? Do you not see that their main preoccupation is their campaign for 2015 elections? Do you not see that their lives are filled with luxury and numerous trips abroad? Do you not know that their children are all away from Nigeria? You see, you can never get their attention by putting us through sleepless nights because you are not priority to them at all.

We actually thought that the worst you could do was the kidnap of the CHIBOK girls but alas! You came along with another strategy – using women and girls as suicide bombers! Using our daughters to destroy us? Oh! how evil can you get? This is the final straw!

The only offence we committed against you is giving birth to you. We wish we can turn back the hand of time. We wish we had power to see into the future -today. May be we would have taken critical decision about your birth.

However we wish, we cannot change the time but you can change because we know that deep down your hearts are the cheerful and loving sons we had and are proud of.

It is time to sheath your swords! It is time to label correctly and address the issues of your grievances accordingly! It is time you stop this violence against Women! It is 16 days of activism! It is your time for change!

On behalf of Nigerian Women whom you have abused sexually, emotionally, physically, rendered childless, turned to widows and refugees.

Source

Rape: Man Remanded For Impregnating 15-yr-old

2014-11-27T04:28:00.001-08:00

A Kuje Magistrate Court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has remanded a 24-year-old mason, Mukailu Ajibe, for impregnating a 15-year-old student.

Ajibe, who resides at Anguwan Gade in Kuje, is facing a two-count charge of abduction and adultery.
The presiding judge, Mr Azubike Okeagwu, remanded Ajibe after he pleaded guilty to the offence and adjourned hearing till Dec.12 for sentence.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Sgt. Niyiom Ishaya, told the court that the report was lodged at the Kuje Police Station on Oct. 16, by one Mr. Ismaila Jezhi, who resides at Local Education Authority (L.E.A) in Kuje.

Ishaya said that on the same date the complaint was filed, the complainant had reported that his daughter was missing for a week.

When the complainants’ daughter returned home she said she was with Ajibe at Anguwan Gade Area. She was discovered to be pregnant and said that Ajibe was responsible.

The prosecutor said that during police interrogation, Mukail admitted that he was responsible for the pregnancy.

Ishaya also said the offence contravenes the provision of sections 272 and 387 of the penal code.

Source

13-YR-OLD GIRL’S HORROR: ‘My stepfather serially raped, impregnated me!’

2014-11-27T04:26:00.002-08:00

Parents and adults generally have responsibility to care for, educate, and discipline children but when the children begin to detest the parents, then the situation calls for concern.

13 -year-old Blessing Chia allegedly fell victim to regular beating by his step father, Mr Benjamin Richard, 35, who, as she claimed, later lusted after her.

The allegation by the girl that the step father serially raped her to the point of her getting pregnant is a subject of police investigations.

Blessing told Sunday Vanguard, “The first time my mother was not around, he took cane and was beating me and told me that if I messed up, he would kill me, that if I shouted or if my mummy heard anything about it, he was going to kill me.

“So the one that happened on Thursday, November 13, 2014, I told him that I would tell my mummy and I dared to see if he would kill me. So l told my mummy.
Richard,the suspect, strongly denies allegation

Richard,the suspect, strongly denies allegation

He raped me four times, the first time was when my mother travelled to Makurdi, Benue State.’’

Blessing’s mother, Mrs Grace Richard, 30, said her daughter reported to her that the stepfather raped her but her husband denied it when she confronted him.

She confirmed that it was during the period she traveled to her home state (Benue) and left her daughter in the care of her stepfather that he first allegedly raped her.

‘’That was two months ago when I travelled to Makurdi and she told me immediately I came back,” the mother said.

“My husband denied and even threatened to beat me black and blue if l ever asked him such a question again”.

Grace said she was not, in the real sense of it, married to the father of Blessing whom she had at the age of 17 before the father died in a motor accident last year.

Blessing’s mother said she and her current husband have been together for four years during which she had a boy child for him. The boy, she said, lives with her mother-in-law.

Mrs Martina Moses, Grace’s elder sister, told Blessing’s story to Sunday Vanguard.

‘’I was in Gwagalape on Thursday when my sister called me around 5pm to help settle an issue Blessing had with a neighbour over SIM card.’’

She continued: ‘’While in their house, I saw my sister’s husband and I asked him where my sister was. He said my sister was on her way to home, that he sent her to collect money from a friend.

‘’I then asked after my niece, Blessing. Richard got angry and said the girl was very stubborn, that he was going to tie her up in a room before dropping me off . He said if he didn’t tie the girl up, she would run away. He tied the girl’s hands and feet in my presence. I pleaded on my niece’s behalf with his stepfather to no avail.

‘’Later that night, my sister came to my house around 11pm and I asked her what she was doing outside that late. She told me that her husband was threatening her.

‘’Grace was afraid to go back home because she was sure Richard would beat her up. That prompted her to go to her elder sister, Martina’s house, so that Martina could follow her back home in order to stop Richard carrying out his threat of beating her. And because it was late in the night, Grace was forced to pass the night at the elder sister’s place.

‘’The following day, being Friday, Martina sent somebody to Richard’s place to bring Blessing. But rather releasing Blessing to the man Martina sent, Richard took the girl on his motorcycle to Martina’s house himself.

‘’On getting to Martina’s house, Blessing ran into her aunty’s arms, and wept profusely after which she claimed that her mother’s husband raped her four times.

‘’After listening to Blessing, Martina said she took the girl to Richard and asked her to repeat what she told her inside in the presence of the stepfather and Blessing repeated everything.

“Right there, l told my sister and her husband that the rape issue will not be swept under the carpet. l asked my brother to go and report the issue at a police station, but my brother advised that we first report the matter to Richard’s mother. It was then that Richard’s mother said we should take Blessing for test, and that took us to Aso police station where we were referred to Nyanya police station since the alleged rape took place in Nyanya.

“When we got to Nyanya police station, the police interrogated the stepfather and he denied yet again. It was at that point the police locked him up.

‘’The police told Richard that the only thing that could save him was if the result of the test indicated that Blessing was still a virgin, but the test showed that Blessing had not only been deflowered but also pregnant. Meanwhile, the police that had the hospital report with them did not disclose the number of weeks Blessing has been pregnant.

‘’We went back to the police station the following day after Richard was detained, only to be told that his father had bailed him.

‘’On getting back to Richard’s house after he was bailed, he tried to convince his neighbours to accept that Blessing was wayward, but his neighbours refused to play along with him. Rather they claimed they heard Blessing screaming on that Thursday but did know the reason.’’

The investigating police officer, IPO, in charge of the case, who did not want her name mentioned, told Sunday Vanguard that Blessing was indeed pregnant but that investigations were in progress.

At press time, Richard had been re-arrested by the police.

Source

Police arraign man for rape, abortion

2014-11-18T02:42:00.000-08:00

A thirty-year-old man, Sherif Afolabi, has been brought before an Apapa Magistrate’s Court for having unlawful carnal knowledge of a 16-year-old girl.

It was learnt that Afolabi defiled the teenager, who was said to be a virgin sometime in December 2013 in the Ilogbo, Ajangbadi area of Lagos.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the girl, who had kept mum about the act, became confused when she noticed that she was pregnant a few months later.

Our correspondent learnt that Afolabi allegedly aborted the pregnancy when the victim informed him of the development.

The victim’s parents, it was gathered, reported the incident at the Ilemba-Hausa Police Division when the girl became unconscious due to the effect of the drug Afolabi gave her.

The defendant was subsequently arrested and arraigned before the magistrate, Mrs. O.I. Adelaja, on two counts bordering on rape and abortion.

The charges read, “That you, Sherif Afolabi, on December 2013, at the Ilogbo area of Ajangbadi, in the Apapa Magisterial District, did have unlawful sexual intercourse with a 16-year-old girl (name withheld) and defiled her virginity, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

“That you, sometime in 2014, at about 10am, at the Ilogbo area of Ajangbadi, in the aforementioned magisterial district, did unlawfully procure abortion of an unborn child by terminating the pregnancy of a 16-year-old girl (name witheld), and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 234 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.”

Afolabi, however, pleaded not guilty.

He was admitted to bail in the sum of N200,000 with a surety in like sum.

“The surety must tender to the prosecutor, evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government and his/her residential address must be verified,” Ajangbadi added.

The matter was adjourned till December 1, 2014.

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I specialize in breaking into homes to rape housewives

2014-11-18T01:27:00.000-08:00

Dutse—Jigawa State command of Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, has arrested 30-year-old Umar Mohammed of Sakwaya village in Dutse Local Government Area for breaking into people’s homes to rape their wives.

rape-toon

According to NSCDC, the accused person confessed that he specialized in breaking into people’s houses in the area at midnight to forcibly rape housewives.

Commandant of the Corps, Dr. Muhammad Gidado, who disclosed this while parading the man before the press in his office yesterday, said he had received several complaints about late night rape cases.

He told newsmen that the suspect had admitted to jumping through perimeter fencing to break into homes, not to steal, but to rape women.

The commandant said since the accused person confessed to the crime, it made their job easier, adding that the suspect would be arraigned in court on completion of investigation into the matter.

Source

Dutse—Jigawa State command of Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, has arrested 30-year-old Umar Mohammed of Sakwaya village in Dutse Local Government Area for breaking into people’s homes to rape their wives.

According to NSCDC, the accused person confessed that he specialized in breaking into people’s houses in the area at midnight to forcibly rape housewives.
Commandant of the Corps, Dr. Muhammad Gidado, who disclosed this while parading the man before the press in his office yesterday, said he had received several complaints about late night rape cases.
He told newsmen that the suspect had admitted to jumping through perimeter fencing to break into homes, not to steal, but to rape women.
The commandant said since the accused person confessed to the crime, it made their job easier, adding that the suspect would be arraigned in court on completion of investigation into the matter.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/11/specialize-breaking-homes-rape-housewives/#sthash.dixez7eK.dpuf

How I Impregnated My 14-Year Daughter

2014-11-18T01:24:00.000-08:00

The girl-child has always been mapped out as endangered species in a world that no longer knows the boundary between morality and infidelity. This is why the clamour for protection and guidance for the girl-child has risen in leaps and bounds. However, despite all the checks put in place by the government and different non-governmental organisations, this fight seem to be on the loosing side as stories abound of abuses meted out to these youngsters.
Surprisingly, most of this abuse stem from loved ones, family members and close family friends and this was the case recently when a father chose to toe the part of a beast by abusing the trust reposed in him by virtue of his position as a father.
For 14-year-old Kehinde Onajobi, her dreams and aspirations to finish school seemed to be shattered, not by poverty or financial lack, but in the hands of her father whom instead of chasing the wolves away from the doorsteps of the growing teenager became the wolve in desecrating his daughter.
For the 50-year-old farmer, Yesiru Onajobi from Bogije in Ibeju Lekki Local government Area of Lagos State, he blamed his moments of madness on the fact that the daughter always slept naked. According to him, “we have been living together since when she was a little girl and we always sleep in the same room. I started sleeping with her last December because she was always naked in the night when she wants to sleep.” Whatever happened to fatherhood, some observers wondered as he spoke to journalists.
Speaking through an interpreter, Onajobi said he was sad for what happened. Stating the reason why he used his daughter as a sleeping partner, he added that since his wife died 4 years ago, he longed for female companionship but none was forthcoming. When asked why he resorted to his daughter, he blamed the devil.
Speaking to THISDAY, Kehinde who was carrying her four-day-old baby appealed to the government to come and take the baby from her, so that she can get her life back on track as she could not even breastfeed the baby. The reasons for this is that it is an abomination in her town and so the innocent child would have to rely on baby food instead of breastfeeding which is what the new born needs now. Perhaps, this influenced her reason of not yet naming the baby girl.
Disclosing how the nefarious activity that left her pregnant and finally, the delivery of the baby for her own father, Kehinde said, “My father came to me in the night and slept with me. I told him that I might get pregnant but he said I will not.”
To get the motherless girl not to disclose to anybody what was going on, Kehinde claimed her father threatened her with death if another person should be privy to the affair. According to her, “he told me that I would die if anybody knows what is happening between us but along the line my twin brother knew but he didn’t tell anybody until I got pregnant, then he went to report to our relatives.”
THISDAY learnt that in a bid not to get her pregnant, the man resorted to sleeping with her four days after her menstrual period but fate, as always, had another plan because despite the man’s carefulness, his daughter came to him one day with the disturbing news that she was pregnant. Kehinde added that he took her to the hospital where she was confirmed pregnant and he told her to carry the baby to term. She said, “when people were looking at me and mocking me, I told him that I had missed my period and he took me to the hospital and it was true so he told me to keep it.”
The bubble burst one day as the man’s family stormed their quarters demanding to know who put her in the family way. Kehinde, who could not point out her father as the culprit told them that it was someone else. Undaunted, the family members who had earlier been told by Kehinde’s twin brother, Taiwo, tied up the man and took the teenager to another place where she confessed the sordid details to the shock of the family.
Commenting on the sad incident, the Deputy PRO, Samuel Jinadu said,” when the villagers realised what happened, they sent Yesiru out of their village and he ran to Elemoro Police Division and gave a fictitious account but on closer investigation by the DPO, he found out that he impregnated his daughter. The villagers sent him out of the village because he had committed an abomination which is strange to their culture.”
He advised that grown men and women should desist from such barbaric acts that would taint the kids throughout their lifetime. According to him, “instead let the adults preach morality to their children. This case is a clear case of defilement of a minor and it would be duly taken to court and let the court met out justice to the offending party.”
However, a conflicting story of the man’s arrest by an officer who didn’t want her name in print stated that the man was apprehended when he wanted to smuggle the baby out. According to her, he took the baby and was about boarding a bus, when the passengers got suspicious and wondered what an old man like that was doing with a young baby.
Fielding questions, he gave out different accounts and this aroused the suspicion of the passengers and they dragged him to Elemoro Police Division in Lekki, where he was probed until he admitted the truth. The arrest of the 50-year old father, raises questions of those not yet discovered or known as this acts has on countless times been brought to the public glare by acts of providence.
Many argue that the girl-child’s care and protection should be taken more seriously than ever before.

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‘Uncle’ raped me for four years – 16-yr-old house help impregnated by master

2014-11-15T01:28:00.000-08:00

No one could have imagined that 16-year-old Gloria (not real name) was just two weeks away from the delivery of a child on September 3, 2014.

“I noticed her neck was full and darker, those were the only signs I saw. So, I asked if she was pregnant. Her expression and answer showed she had no idea she was indeed pregnant,” a neighbour who unravelled the mystery of the pregnancy told Saturday PUNCH.

Gloria, a year one senior secondary school student, lives with his married brother unaware that she was about to become a mother. But buried deeply in the girl’s heart was a painful secret she had never told a soul.

The inquisitive neighbour was unconvinced. She approached Gloria’s sister-in-law, who also expressed the same concern that she was afraid the girl might be pregnant.

“The sister-in-law had even taken the girl to the hospital and had her urine tested for pregnancy. But the test was negative. But I insisted we take her back to hospital for a blood test instead. I even had to pay for that,” the neighbour, who pleaded anonymity, said. The test result was positive. Gloria was pregnant.

With threats, pleading and persuasion, Gloria’s brother, Obi, tried to get the truth about who was responsible out of Gloria, but the little girl was too afraid to tell the truth.

Saturday PUNCH decided to withhold the identity of the girl and those of her relations because she is still a minor according to provisions of the Lagos State Child Rights Law, 2007.

The same neighbour, who had been friends with the family for some years, eventually got the girl to tell the truth, which shocked the girl’s brother.

When our correspondent spoke with Gloria on Thursday, there was no sign that she could have been the mother of the child she held in her arms.

Timid and innocent, she looked at the floor as she spoke softly, delving into the account of a sexual abuse she had gone through in the last five years.

When Gloria’s brother brought her to Lagos seven years ago from their village in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, it was to give her a semblance of a better life, different from the pathetic one she was said to be living in. Their mother had just died at the time, while their aged father back in the village was not doing too well financially.

“She was living with me along with some of my friends at the time. Things were still rough for me and I was single.” Obi said.

Not long after this, Obi’s good friend from Anambra State, a trader living in Mangoro area of Lagos named Ugochukwu Okparanta, said he would take over the care of the girl to ease the financial burden off his friend while the girl would help his wife with house chores.

“I was nine when I started living with Uncle (Okparanta). But two years after I got there, he started raping me,” Gloria began. “He started one day when I was washing plates and he started to touch me in the private part and breast.”

Okparanta

The girl became tearful. Her voice shook and trailed off. But our correspondent assured her that she was not going to be in trouble of any kind by telling her story. Then she continued.

“He started by petting me, telling me I would like it. I refused and became afraid. Then he threatened me. He would tell me that I would be in trouble if I did not do what he wanted,” Gloria said.

Asked why she could not report the problem to her brother, the girl said she thought nobody would believe her.

“If I told Madam (Okparanta’s wife), she would say I lied against her husband,” Gloria explained. Then came one night, while her boss’ wife slept in the couple’s room, Okparanta sneaked out to the room Gloria shared with his own daughter, an older girl.

She said, “He told me to follow him to the sitting room. I obeyed. He raped me and while he did it, I was about to scream, but he covered my mouth with his hand very tightly. I was bleeding when he finished and I became more scared but he smiled and said the blood was normal.

“After that, he would rape me almost every night. Madam did not know anything. Anytime I refused, Uncle would threaten to deal with me. There was a day I refused and when I greeted him the following day, he did not answer me.

“He reported me to his wife that I had become pompous in his house and that I no longer greeted him.”

This sexual abuse would continue for four years, according to the girl, until 2013 when his brother got married and brought her back to help around the house.

However, in January 2014, the sexual abuse the girl had kept secret and thought was over would come back to haunt her.

“His wife had just had a miscarriage and I was sent to go and help her for a few days. But in the afternoon, when his children had gone to school, he dragged me to his children’s room and raped me,” Gloria said.

Few days before that day, our correspondent learnt that Gloria’s brother had even gone to his ‘magnanimous’ friend, bearing a bottle of wine, to thank him for taking care of his sister over the years.

“I did not know in my wildest dream that the man I see as my friend would do such a terrible thing to my sister,” he said.

Nobody knew what damage had been done until September 2014 when the symptoms of pregnancy started to manifest in the girl’s body.

“She is one of those people who could be pregnant and her flat tummy would not make anyone suspicious. I thought that if she was pregnant, it would be in early stages and could be aborted. I had no idea that she would deliver in a few days,” the neighbour told our correspondent.

The day Gloria gave birth, the girl who knew nothing about motherhood was in labour for hours in her room and thought she was having a stomach ache.

She only screamed when her water broke, it was learnt. But she had a crisis-free delivery and gave birth to a healthy baby boy.

“I have never had sex with any other boy before. I can swear on my life,” she said.

When Gloria’s angry brother and other relations confronted Okparanta with the rape allegation, he denied initially.

“He later admitted that he slept with her only once,” Obi said.

When Saturday PUNCH spoke with Okparanta on the phone, he initially went from feigning ignorance to outright denial.

But when he was asked why he sent a cheque of N50,000, to the girl’s brother, he hesitated a little and admitted he raped the girl once.

“It is a lie that I started sleeping with her since she was 11. Even last year, I did not sleep with her,” Okparanta said.

“Yes, I gave her brother a cheque because they were accusing me that I was responsible,” he continued.

But did he think he could be responsible since he has admitted sleeping with the girl?

He said, “I only slept with her once in January and she was not a virgin at the time. That was the last time I did it. I was not the first person to sleep with her. I am not the one that deflowered her.

“I was sleeping in the sitting room at the time. I just felt someone touching me. I just did not know how I slept with her after that. I hated her since then.”

Our correspondent asked if it was true that he and his wife had accused the girl of being possessed, Okparanta said, “I did not know what came over me that made me sleep with her. I told his brother after the incident that he should take her to a church for deliverance.”

He told our correspondent that he did not tell his friend that he ever slept with his sister.

“No, I did not. I just hated the girl and felt she should not have made me to do such a bad thing. I am currently discussing with the family to see how we can take care of the baby if indeed I am responsible.”

Child rights activist, Esther Ogwu, who had taken up the case, said taking responsibility for the care of the child was just a first step.

Ogwu, who is the Executive Director of Esther Child Rights Foundation, said, “We are working to ensure that justice is done in this matter. But the welfare of the mother and child is paramount. We are taking the matter to the police, who will invite Okparanta for interrogation.

“But it is necessary for families to be wary of the environment where children they put children they bring to Lagos from their villages. Many of such children often times are abused by adults who take advantage of their ignorance and innocence.”

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