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Rape and Rapist in Nigeria: Looking Beyond Law -By Olayinka Abdurrazzaq

The best haven for criminals is under Nigerian laws. Albeit Faleke proposed that “person standing guilty of rape should be castrated”, yet House of representative has voted against it as a punishment for the offense of rape. Perhaps, If this proposal could be approved, it will go a long way in reducing rape cases.

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Ours is not a perfect society but our imperfection can be eradicated by our observance of the rule of law. Our women are our greatest asset and unless we use them to advantage and well, Nigeria will be the loser. We cannot afford to lag behind while other nations march forward in protecting their women, and enjoy the full benefit of them. Because our women are full of intellect and sagacity, that can drive our nation to a great land.

For every action, there must be underneath reaction. The consequence has its sequence. Indeed, rapists are not the therapist. And victims must regain their fame. But One should not clothe one’s eyes like a lady justice, from the root causes of this unholy cases of rape. It may be difficult though,  for Juliet to justify her action this very June, yet Romeo must be able to explain what made up of Rome.

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The latest thing on ground aside COVID-19 is rape cases. The atrocious practice of violent gender base and sexual harassment. This is highly becoming species which makes everyone afraid of sending his/her sister or daughter an errand without considering the heinous act of the rapists. The saying of some biologists that human beings are also animals can now be well fathomable at this time. Because it is only in the nonpolitical animal world that forcing the opposite gender to have carnal is godly. Some men nowadays are real animals in human skin. These animals have to be chased with a drastic measure.

It shouldn’t amaze you that everybody has now become potential rapists. It is an admitted fact that this country had been raped by the colonists (with an open argument that we are still mentally colonized) and its trauma is still affecting Nigeria. Nowadays, many a man is psychologically raped by drug abuse which makes him lost his reasoning that differed him from a nonpolitical animal. If not the reasoning has got lost, of what benefit a man will get by having carnal knowledge of a five years girl? It is now glaring that the rapists are animals who have no sense of controlling their urges, and ready to relieve it by any means, at any time, place, and with anybody. This addiction to drugs by some men has contributed immensely to the rape cases in Nigeria.

Verily, The idle hand is the devil’s workshop. The increment in harassment and gender-based violence can also be attached to this time of lockdown, which has made some people stay at home, walk around without having something to do. We have to call on everybody, the media, civil society, civil rights organization, parent bodies, and some other right-thinking  Nigerians to see how to curb this incident attack on our young girls.

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Calling for justice is a good thing, but we should have it in mind that the effect of rape trauma syndrome caused by this country’s rapists is this child, called “constitution”. We should not only blame those people indulging in these evil acts but also our laws. Our law is not too different from these people, because it is an issue of the rapists. The best haven for criminals is under Nigerian laws. Albeit Faleke proposed that “person standing guilty of rape should be castrated”, yet House of representative has voted against it as a punishment for the offense of rape. Perhaps, If this proposal could be approved, it will go a long way in reducing rape cases. The laws should be in action not in paper only. It should be put in place in such a way that these rape cases would not become the order of the day. It is sad, that in this country rape and murder, –two heinous crime was committed over a soul and nobody has been caught.

Verily, there is a law, and the punishment for rape is well written in our laws, but it saddens that its spirit of implementation and enforcement has gone into extinction, for time immemorial. That is why our women must try not to fall, victim. Justice in Nigeria can be likened to a metamorphic rock, it is the hardest thing to get. Say no to rape.

Nevertheless, as yoruba do say, ‘ti aba eran wi, ka ba eran na wi’. That is, both parties must not be spared. We should not fold our arms from the needful and expect neatful. Yes, the wanton animal in human skin must be punished for his lascivious act, and Justice must be done and achieved for the victims of rape. But we should know that justice is not one-way traffic. Therefore, our sisters should also be cautious.

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For instance, Uwaila and Bello Barakat cases are not the classics, many had happened and many had suffered because people totally forget to extinguish the scent that beckons the incessant rape cases in this recent, which is indecent dressing. In that case, our women also need to dress properly. Say no to rape should collocate with say no to indecent.

Our women have to Justify their decency before sent for justice. He who comes to equity must come with clean hands. So long years, governments and institutions have been warning against the indecent dressing, yet it hat has no positive effect, rather, the level of indecent always get ascended, which has become a norm in the society. Naked as a jaybird-ladies are now rampant in a public setting without embarrassment. What lost! You have to absolve yourselves before resolving to justice for your aid, Dear sisters.

Stay home is now the only vaccine for COVID-19, as stay decent is the key panacea to curb the rape culture disease, which always gets increased like a COVID-19 case. Though a spade is a spade, a rapist is a rapist, who is to dance before the wrath music of law. Hence, we must rejuvenate the lost morality and modesty in our society, which has greatly contributed to these illicit. Though morality and Law are two different things, yet not entirely. Say no to indecent, as you say no to rape.

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Kudos Justice Oputa, who said that justice is not one-way traffic, even not only two-way traffic, but it is really a three way-way traffic– justice for the appellant-accused of a heinous crime of murder; justice for the victim, the murdered man, the deceased, ‘whose blood is crying to heaven for vengeance’, and finally justice for the society at large –the society whose social norms and values had been desecrated and broken by the criminal act complained of.

The government must make sure that the rapists are brought into book, for justice to reign for our beloved sisters Barakat Bello and Uwaila, the victim, murdered, it is really sad. Also the accused, the rapist must also get justice. As well as our society whose morals and values are broken by indecent acts and vices must regain her decency. So, the case of rape will sporadically descend.

I hereby implore the Government to speed arise to fight this rife case of rape, as they do to pandemic virus cases. Because Our women are invaluable resources before us, their dignities must be protected for their blissful future.

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To train a woman is to train a nation. Justice must reign, indecent must ruin and rapists must be punished.

God bless Nigeria! Bless our women!! Bless you!!!

Olayinka is a 300 level law student, University of Ilorin/ Advocate/ Humanitarian Activist/ Opinion writer/ Essayist/ Poet/ Investigative Journalist.

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He can be reached via:
08102225920
olayinkaabdulrazaq@gmail.com

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