The gruesome rape and murder of a student of the University of Benin, Miss Vera Uwaila Omozuwa has continued to draw the ire of Nigerians.
DAILY POST had reported that the 100-level student was raped and murdered right inside a church, an incident that had drawn outrage across the divide.
Ever since she was murdered, Nigerians across the country are persistently demanding for justice, with the police hierarchy recently announcing that the Force Headquarters would take over investigation of the matter from the Edo State Police Command.
Similarly, leading a protest march in Enugu, the Women Aid Collective, WACOL, said it was time for the Inspector-General of Police, Adamu Mohammed to declare a state of emergency on rape.
The rights group said all forms of abuse against women must stop.
They made the appeal at the Enugu State Police Command, weekend, after submitting a petition to the IGP through the Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Ahmad Abdurrahman.
WACOL is calling for the prompt investigation and prosecution of all those involved in rape, sexual violence and murder of Nigerian women and girls.
It believes that the police have not done enough towards bringing to justice those perpetrating rape and other violent acts agains the women.
Founder and Executive Director of WACOL, Professor Joy Ezeilo said in the petition to the IGP that the rape and murder of three women such as Uwaila Omozua, Barakat Bello, Obiamaka Orakwe and Tina Ezekwe would not be swept under the carpet.
Ezeilo said, “We have received in formation on the brutal rape and murder of one Vera Uwaila who was brutally raped and murdered in a church building in Benin city, Edo state, on 27th of May 2020. The brutal rape and murder of Baraket Bello, a 19 years old girl and student in Ibadan, Oyo state and the fatal killing of one Tina Ezekwe by two men of the Nigerian police at Iyana Oworo, Lagos state.
“These brutal violence and killings have once again brought to the fore the failure of the Nigerian police to successfully investigate and prosecute cases of sexual violence, this has allowed an atmosphere of impunity to foster and contributed to the continued abuse and violence women face regularly in Nigeria.”
She added that, “the Nigerian police force is yet to properly investigate, arrest suspects and prosecute the rape and violent murder of Uwa Omozua, Barakat Bello Obiomaka Orakwe and other Nigerian women and girls who have been brutally violated and murdered recently.
“This failure on the part of the Nigerian police force is disturbing, concerning and repugnant to t6he principles of due diligence of the state to respond where there has been a breach of fundamental human rights.
“In the highlighted cases, the victims’ right to life has been deprived, this constitutes a crime under the laws of Nigeria and it must be treated as such.
“We, therefore, urge the inspector general of police to deploy his good office to promptly investigate and prosecute these highlighted cases and all other pending cases across Nigeria.
“We ask that a thorough investigation be carried out with a view to unravelling the perpetrators of these dastardly acts and the citizens of this nation be dully informed of the progress made on the cases by the police.
Responding, the Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Ahmad Abdurrahman commended the NGO and other civil society organizations for the protest and declared that the command would join the protest against rape, women abuse and murder.
