From Haruna Usman,Birnin Kebbi
The Kebbi State president of the National council for women societies (NCWS) Hajia Balkisu Atuna Danga along side hundreds of women from different women groups in the state took protest to the kebbi state assembly to register their displeasure over incessant rape cases of both minors and grown up women across the country.
The protesters marched peacefully to the state assembly complex holding placards with various inscriptions like say no rape,stop gender based violence and several invocations to rapist,the protesters were received by the speaker of Kebbi State house assembly honourable Samaila Abdulmuminu Kamba,in his speech he said several groups of like minds on several accassions visited them with same demands,he added that NCWS is welcome describing their protest as timely, he regretted how how rape has become a national problem with almost a daily occurance most vulnerable to rape are minors from rural areas and lots more in urban areas across the country.
The speaker,, told the protesters that many Nigerians advocated different punishments for rapist like casteration,death and other severe penalties, he urged them to synagise with other groups with same request to come up with one punishment to be forwarded to the assembly for prompt action he assured.
In her speech,the state leader of National council for women societies Balkisu Danga told the speaker that,the collaboration of some non governmental organizations and the NLC women wing were in the house to call on the honourable members to sign VAPP Act 2015 and the implementation of act against rape and violence against women and conflict in Kebbi State.
The women leader added that,rape is not only a crime but it offends the morality preached by all the religions in the country, Danga stated that many young girls lost their lives to rape,according to her victims of rapes had their future shattered therefore enough is enough something concrete must be done to stop the dastardly act.
She reminded the law makers that women in great numbers voted for them and they are now crying to them to help them safeguard the future of women by meeting their demands through the requested legislation.
Comrade Elizabeth Emmanuel JP who is the chair person of the Nigeria labour Congress women wing told the law makers that, the time to act is now,rapist have inflicted untold emotional trauma to their victims, according to her lots of minors drop out of due to rape and several other women suffering in the hands of callous men who turned to them to punching bags”the trend must stop women must be protected against any form of gender based violence “she appealed to the law makers to listen with good ears the cries of women in the state and country at large.
In her short speech,the special adviser to his excellency the governor of Kebbi state Senator Atiku Bagudu on women affairs hajia Zara,u Kalgo said that ,she along side the wife of the governor Doctor Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu and other women groups have stepped up efforts to creat more awareness to women in the rural areas and is yielding positive results as victims parents now open up which led to several arrest of rapist in the state, she urged the state assembly to meet the demands of the protesters
