Following the tragic rape
cases recently in Nigeria,
parents have said the best
way to ensure a girl-child
safety is to take personal
responsibility of watching
over their children.
Earlier, Daily Times
reported that, an Osogbo
High Court sentenced two
young men to death by
hanging for raping a 14-year-old girl, Bilikisu Adeyemi, to death.
The convicts, Suraju Olarewaju, 20, and Lekan Olatayo, 20, in 2005 were arraigned on a
two-count charge of conspiracy and murder.
Also, three men have been arrested by the police over the alleged gang raping of a 14-
year old girl, Ujunwa Nwolisa in Nkpor, Idemmili North local government area, Anambra
state on Saturday.
According to reports, Nwolisa had gone to fetch firewood in company of two other under
aged boys at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in the town before she was accosted by
the three men who were security guards of the church and reportedly raped at machete
point.
The gang rape incident was confirmed by the Anambra Police Command saying a a
suspect has already being arrested while efforts are on to arrest other gang members of
the security men who raped the girl.
Speaking to Daily Times, Mrs Taiwo Iwolowa said, "I don't take chances with my children,
I make it a personal responsibility to take care of them. What am I a mother for if I can't
look after my children? The issue of rape started a long time ago and sonce then, I made
up my mind never to send my kids especially my girl-child to an elderly man."
According to her, the economic factor and urbanisation are contributors to violence
against children.
"These days, parents hardly have time for their kids. They are out in the morning only to
come back at night and they leave the safety of their kids in the hands of strangers."
Also, a father of three children, Mr Chris Bosua said, "really, the best thing to do is take
personal responsibility of your children even on the way to school.
"My children go to near-by schools so that if I or their mother are not around, they can
come on their own and we support them with prayers too."
Countless women and girls in Nigeria are subjected to violence by some members of their
families and within their communities, as in many countries throughout the world.
Women of all ages and from all socio-economic groups, living in rural and urban
communities, are affected.
Though, Nigeria lacks a documented statistics makes on this, studies suggest levels of
violence and rape are shockingly high.
More than a third and in some groups nearly two-thirds of women in Nigeria are
believed to have experienced physical, sexual or psychological violence in the family.
No day goes by without the news of rape of the girl-child by some family members or
unknownn men.
How To Ensure Safety of Girl-Child
Young people thrive in safe surroundings. So one has to take very seriously the safety of
children by providing a safe environment.
Every home and school should teach children about safety and protection measures. As a
parent, you should take an active interest in your children and listen to them. Teach your
children that they can be assertive in order to protect themselves against abduction and
exploitation. And most importantly, make your home a place of trust and support that
fulfills your child’s needs.
Children often lack the skills to protect themselves. It is our responsibility, as parents and
teachers, to safeguard children and to teach them the skills to be safe, smart and strong.
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), more should be done to
urgently change the mindset towards women and check such brutal crimes.
"The law is not enough if it is not enforced effectively. The brutal rape cases indicate the
need to strongly improve the response of law enforcement officers,” UNICEF said.
"Girls and women need to be valued, respected and feel safe, not only within the confines
of their homes but also in public spaces,” it said.
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