DFID Raises Alarm Over High Rate Of Rape Cases In South East, Nigeria

Posted by African Examiner Ignatius Okpara, Latest Headlines, News, News From The State Sunday, September 20th, 2015

By IGNATIUS OKPARA, Enugu

BALTIMORE, MD (AFRICAN EXAMINER) – The Department For International Development, DFID funded Sexual Assault and Referral Centre, Tamar (SARC) Enugu, has raised the alarm over high rate of violence rape cases in South East, Nigeria, saying it has so far recorded no fewer than 320 abuses within one year of its establishment.

The organisation is managed by an Enugu based non governmental organizaton, NGO Women Aid Collective(WACOL) and financed by the Justice for All (J4A) of the DFID.

Presenting the statistical data, during a meeting with media against violence network weekend, Manager of Tamar SARC, Miss Nkechi Nwabueze, stated that the figure reflected only the few cases, reported to the office,adding that many cases are not reported.

She disclosed that out of the figure, 84 cases are minors below five years, 102 adolescent, 114 youths, 22 adults, while six were old people.

According to her, one of the cases was successfully prosecuted in law court, and the perpetrator is currently serving a 14 year jail term.

Nwabueze, explained that the media parley, was to brief newsmen on activities of Tamar SARC as well as seek their partnership in the fight against rape, stressing that the media and the general public owe it as a duty, to protect “our children and our youths by frequently reporting sexual violence, and its consequences to the society”.

She added that out of the 320 cases recorded at the center, only 27 were charged to court, saying “this low record was due to parents and victims culture of Silence and reluctant to seek legal redress.

“Tamar SARC door is always open; we just need people to report cases through our hotline, 09091333000 or 09092777000, visit our Office at no 2A Salvage crescent, (FSP building) opposite Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) Enugu” she stated.

The manager, lamented that some parents always retreat on pursuing cases, stressing that “any rapist or pedophilia, must be sent to jail, to serve as a deterrent to others, thus stopping serial rapists on their track.

Also speaking at the event, the Behavioral Change Officer at Path2, Mr. George Eki, said that the society needs champions of change, and urged the media to take the lead battle against sexual violence, by effectively reporting rape cases.

Members of the media also pledged their support and commitment towards eliminating all forms of sexual assault.

Another stakeholder Mr. Newton Barabara, in his own view, want the private sector to come on board by sponsoring some sensitization campaign aimed at fighting the rising incidence of sexual deviance in the society as part of their social responsibility.

The Media Network is made up of newsmen drawn from both the print and electronic.