Group condemns abuse against girl -child, women

The Chief Commissioner of The Nigerian Girls Guide Association (NGGA), Mrs. Maria Goretti-Sule has expressed dissatisfaction with the various abuse and molestation against the girl -child and women, saying it is imperative for government at all levels to rise and defend the girl child against all forms of violence.

Speaking at the ‘Voices against violence trainers workshop in Lagos, Goretti -Sule said w2ith the increased cases o9f violence in the land, women, particularly the girl- child is not safe.

“I challenge our girls and young women to be strong to break barriers and refuse to keep quiet when they are being violated, opposed and intimidated. You can only receive help when you call for help, Raise your voices against violence and don’t permit anyone to keep you silent against your will.

“The Nigerian Girls Guide Association seizes this medium to condemn in very strong terms, the tragedy that befell the late Ochanya Ogbanje, the 13- year old girl from Benue State who was repeatedly raped since she was eight years old by her aunt’s husband and son. The accused, Mr. Andrew Ogbuja, Head of Department, Catering and Hotel Management at the Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo, and his son, Victor Ogbuja, a final year student of Animal production at Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi said to also be involved in raping the girl are yet to be apprehended by the police.

“The little girl who thought she had found a safe place to live in and further her education was raped by the people that should have shielded and protected her, from the time she was eight and this evil act lasted for about six years until she developed Vesico Vagina Fistula (VVF) complications as a result of her ordeal and died at age 13 on October 17.

“Similar stories such as that of Ochanya are still occurring in this country but we don’t get to hear them because for whatever reason, they are being kept away from the rest of the society. Since this particular case is in court, our association can only cry for justice for Ochanya and demand that the perpetrators (father and son) be brought to book to pay for their crime.  

Assistant National Project Commissioner, NGGA, Mrs Lilian Damie stressed the need to enforce the laws put in place by the government to address the trend.