The Umuada Igbo, the
cultural umbrella of all Igbo speaking women in the world, has vowed to
take up the prosecution of rape cases in Igboland.
The women, who
met at
Eke Umunnachi in Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State and
Central School Ebenebe in Awka North Council Area on Saturday to
sensitise women on their rights, said they had already taken up four of
such cases in Anambra and Enugu states.
They said their resolve
to intervene was informed by the rising incidence of rape in Igboland, a
adding that they could not sit idly and watch the development.
The President of the
group, Dr. Kate Ezeofor, described rape as the worst form of female
abuse and decried its increase in the society.
She also decried the
situation where victims were reluctant to report to the police because
they were afraid of being attacked by the suspects in future and the
stigma associated with rape.
Others who spoke during
the event included the Deputy National Legal Adviser, Mrs. Nkem Anyaogu,
and Chief Esther Onwubunka, among others.
One of the women Mrs.
Philomena Nnamani said, “The stigma is too much for women to bear, any
rape case should be reported to Umuada Igbo and we will take it up, we
are not ending it in the South-East but any state where victims abound.”
The women at the programme commended the
group for taking the initiative to sensitise women and called on all
men who engaged in female abuse and rape to desist from it or face the
wrath of the women and the land.
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