WIPF urge arrest of LP women leader’s killers

Following the murder of Labour Party (LP) Women Leader, Mrs. Victoria Chintex, in Kaduna State, on Tuesday morning, Women in Politics Forum (WIPF) has urged the police in the state to bring the killers to justice.

Gunmen stormed her residence on Monday night into Tuesday morning and shot the deceased and her husband. While she died on the spot, her husband was left with gunshot injuries.
WIPF President, Ebere Ifendu, on behalf of Nigerian women, said the killers must be apprehended and brought to justice as soon as possible, while clear and active measures should be taken by the police and other security agencies to make sure that such acts do not recur.
She noted discussions in recent years about the need to address the culture of impunity that encourages all forms of abuse, which, along with numerous others, point to a persistent issue with the way operatives manage the country’s security situation.
“This issue also explains why unknown gunmen boldly broke into the victim’s home and shot her dead, wounding her husband,” she added.
According to Ifendu, there has been increase in various forms of violence against women in politics, including assassination, hate speech, blackmail, intimidation, cyber bulling, physical assault, destruction of campaign materials and sexual violence.
She described them as deliberate attempts to discourage women’s active participation and to undermine, delay or influence engagement in the electoral process.
Her words: “WIPF calls on women, youth and Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) not sell their votes but use their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) wisely at the polls. It is our political right to take part in the governance of our country, directly or indirectly. We are also imploring Nigerian women not to be intimidated by this ugly incident, but to stand firm to ensure that our voices are heard.”