Sanwo-Olu’s wife, others canvass indigenous languages against rape, others

Seek support for victims
Wife of Lagos State Governor, Dr. (Mrs.) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, has said that sensitisation campaigns against rape should be carried out in indigenous languages to allow members of the public to understand the need to shun rape and other social vices.

The governor’s wife, who spoke at an all-men walk/campaign against rape organised by Mirabel Centre and Bariga Chapter of National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), as well as the unveiling of a signpost declaring Bariga as a rape-free-zone at the weekend, said that using indigenous languages in communicating the message against rape would end the scourge in communities.

“The government is saddened at the rape cases in Lagos State and we want everyone to collaborate in ensuring that we bring an end to this menace. We need to go to the grassroots and local councils with high record of rape cases to ensure we bring an end to it. We need the co-operation and support of residents to end this vice, which is why we need to use our indigenous language so that the people in the communities will understand the message well,” she said.

She also noted that cordial relationship between residents and local law enforcement agencies would go a long way to combat rape and other social vices at the grassroots level.

Also speaking, the lawmaker representing Somolu Constituency 2, Rotimi Abiru and Chairman of Bariga Local Council Development Area, Kolade Alabi, urged residents, particularly the youths, to shun all social vices, including rape and other sexual violence.

They also tasked all stakeholders to ensure they work together to effectively reduce the scourge of rape and ensure Bariga Local Council Development Area remains a rape-free zone, especially as it is known to be one of the local councils with incidences of rape.

Earlier, the General Secretary, NYCN, Bariga Chapter, Ibrahim Oladimeji, said sensitisation was key, as most perpetrators of rape and other social vices were ignorant of the effects of their actions on the victims of such acts.

In the same vein, the founder, Mirable Centre, Itoro Eze-Anaba, urged support for rape victims to enable them speak out when they fall prey to the menace, as most of them were being stigmatised by the community.

“We implore everyone not to stigmatise rape victims so that they can speak out and report rape attempts and cases,” she said.