To combat the problem of sexual abuse in the nation, Comrade Grace Ike, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Press Corps, has made a plea to legislators at the federal and state levels to give priority to the creation of sexual offense courts throughout the nation.
During the book launch event for Lemmy Ugbegbe, a fellow journalist, and the Men Against Rape Foundation, Ike proposed that the efforts be modeled after prosperous ones in Lagos and other places.
In honor of Keren-Happuch Aondodoo Akpagher and several other victims, the book is a compilation of poems on sexual and gender-based violence, according to the journalist, who is also the Vice Chairman of the Correspondents Chapel of the Federal Capital Territory Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists. The goal of the collection is to raise awareness about the need to address vice in society on a comprehensive basis.
Ike expressed his gratitude to the Men Against Rape Foundation and the event organizers for their dedication to raising awareness of the horrific experiences that survivors of sexual assault endure.
She did, however, voice concern at the concerning data on sexual assault and asked for everyone to pitch in to make sure the issue is resolved.
She said, “The statistics are alarming—a recent survey in Nigeria revealed that 31.4% of sexually active adolescent females and 5.7% of males experienced forced sex (rape) at sexual initiation.
“Shockingly, female adolescents living with HIV are disproportionately affected by this violence.
“The normalization of sexual violence is spreading like wildfire, leaving victims in unimaginable physical and psychological anguish.
“What’s even more disturbing is the growing trend of perpetrators committing murder, killing their victims after these heinous acts—an act that must be condemned in the strongest terms.”
“While the list of victims in Nigeria is extensive, many cases remain unreported due to fear of stigma and inadequate support systems.
“Despite existing legislation imposing severe penalties for SGBV offences, prosecution rates remain dismally low. Victims often shy away from reporting due to fear of stigma and the arduous legal process.
“I am particularly troubled by the absence of a government-funded compensation scheme for victims of sexual and violent crimes in Nigeria. This is a critical gap that demands urgent attention from our policymakers.
“Furthermore, civil society organizations such as the Men Against Rape Foundation play a pivotal role in advocating for the rights of SGBV victims and ensuring they receive the justice and support they deserve.”
