Corona Crisis: Can Rape Be Justifiable, Excusable? -By Hammed J. Sulaiman

Cases of rape have been incessant in Nigeria, but the peak of it as appear now, was the recent case that has turned to current boiling saga – a young girl, Miss Vera Uwaila, who was raped and murdered in a cold blood, right inside Church. News emerged that Vera Uwaila Omozuwa is a first year microbiology student of University of Benin (UNIBEN) and since Covid-19 Lockdown began, has been using Church for her study hours. However, she was on 29th of May, brutally raped and murdered while in Church for her study hour.

By and large, rape cases have now to some extent birth arguments as some people are trying to justify rape. Writers emerged; everyone cooked opinions tending to show rape can be excusable. This is nothing but game-blaming, as it appeared that some people are not rapists but they are rape apologists.

Regardless of GENDER, rape ought to never have an excuse. The only rape that can be excusable “impliedly” according to our law, is matrimonial rape: where a husband can forcefully have sex with her wife, and at such instance, will be termed as “Assault”.

Many painted words explaining why ladies should also be responsible for rape: for going clubs; lap dancing; indecent dressing; make ups; hanging out with guys; show off among others. But will you believe the fact that, one who is in quest to swim should not at all be linked, be made to drown. We now live in an up-side world – where these ‘do what I say’ people; some rape apologists are the most heinous humans. Some are not rapists but they are rapists.

We now all live in failure – we all sin in one way or the other. Some believe that only forceful sex is rape, whereas, many of these rape apologists know not that rape can occur by the use of trick, luring, deception, intellect-gaming, lie to (only) explore the juice in between thighs of those ladies. All these are buttressed in our law. Funny how, some of these rape apologists are currently at the fore-front of hashtags. The issue of consent in rape is very stringent – to the extent that even amidst sex, consent can be withdrawn or even after “round one”.

Linking rape with indecent dressing and many factors is uncalled for. Rape is not justifiable, excusable. This is because, some societies where half dressing is brimming usually have minimal rape cases; and here in our society, children below seven years of age are being raped; ladies in full-nice attires are being raped; some fathers are raping their daughters; rapists do rape girls/ladies in full Niqab, Hijab; nuns and infants are not left out! Then, why linking rape with these factors?

As for this writer, the act of rape exists in mind. Rapists “in their right senses” are emotionally daft and mentally unstable. They see not with their eyes but with what beneath their thighs. Blinded by lust; some lost by feign love – just to journey ladies’ V-parts. Some do this act of rape as vengeance or ritual act.

They are more or less an animal – an He-goat. This is because once an He-goat sees She-goat, he will just bounce on her to satisfy himself because She-goat has no pampers – no wrapper. Dear you reading this as a man, as a guy, can you abruptly bounce on a “mad-naked” lady you see walking…? Can you bounce yourself on a lady because she is half naked? Can you bounce on a girl sighted naked in a bathroom just to satisfy yourself? Then if yes, you are a rapist; an Animal – an He-goat!

It saddens that our law with provided punishment is there to protect victims of rape but (the law) always seem lifeless! Stop raping girls, they own their body. Preach “Freedom With Responsibility” rather; stop the rape as an excuse!

Hammed J. Sulaiman is a Budding Poet, Published Writer and a Coordinator at Students For Liberty, a Largest Libertarian Organization in the World. He is currently a mentee at SprinNG, a Literary Movement and Society for the Promotion, Revitalization, and Improvement of New Nigerian Generations in Writing and Literature.

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