Rule of law must prevail in issues of sexual abuse, says group

Jama’at Darus Salam Organization of Nigeria has urged Nigeria as well as other nations of the world to further empower the court towards letting the rule of law prevail in issues of sexual abuse.

The group in a communiqué issued after the 1441ah (2019) Mawlid nabiyy celebration in Ilorin and signed by Al-khalifah, Alhaji Mur’tada Hasan Ahmad-Zaruq, said Nigeria should re-educate and enlighten the law enforcement agents on the ideal methods of prosecution of sex offenders.

It however advised that Nigerians should avoid intermingling of opposite sex in all gatherings.

Attributing the cause of rape to lack of proper religious education of children, substantially the females; Nudity or near- nakedness of female children outdoors; Insecurity in the community; Poverty; Absence of rule of law on dressing; Environmental influence; and Prolificacy of pornographic films in the community, among others, it noted that government, parents, and all that are involved in child upbringing need to be more committed and more equipped to rightly guide the children in the contemporary world.

“Besides, technology is increasingly shrinking the globe, making it easy to hold the village in the palm of our hand. If the children innocently consume all that comes their way, the elderly who should have had better experience about life should note that the future they hope to bequeath the progeny is on the line. Of what value, then, is present without future? Giving our children the right education, jointly fighting injustice or crimes in whatever form, may keep our children safe from sexual abuse or rape; and give us hope for the future of our dream,” it stated.

The group recommended that prospective partners of same religion should be encouraged as that might enhance their success in marriage; parents should caution their minor children from using handsets; Nigeria should accord religious education its rightful place in our institutions; and Muslims parents should give their children adequate Islamic education, especially the females, and monitor their exposure to world.

It highlighted that damages caused by rape to include: vaginal bleeding, vaginal inflammation, pelvic pain, unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases (STD) like Hiv/Aids; victims of rape experience psychological damages that include fear, traumatic stress disorder, depression, aggression, and suicide; victims of rape may continuously suffer social stigmatization as many people may not want to marry them or make friendship with them; and absence of trust of the victims in the community.