The Bayo Arowolaju Foundation (BAF), a US and Nigeria Based Nonprofit Foundation, has condemned in strong terms, the recent news of incessant rape, sexual assault, and murder of women and girls across Nigeria.
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The Founder and CEO, Dr. Bayo Arowolaju Jr., who spoke to reporters on Saturday from Washington DC, USA, called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the criminal elements behind the rape and murder of Miss. Vera Uwalla Omozewa, a 22-year old student of the University of Benin, Edo State and Miss. Barakat Bello, a 19-year old student of the Institute of Agriculture, Research and Training, Ibadan, Oyo State. He further said, “A sane society must not tolerate a crime of rape and called for all perpetrators to be made accountable for their heinous crimes without further delays. ”Dr. Arowolaju said the recent lockdown and shelter-in-place due to COVID-19 have increased violence against women across the globe. Most importantly, the convener of BAF, “worries that there may be many victims out there who may have been raped but are afraid to speak up and continue to suffer in pains and agonies.”
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According to him, acts of rape and sexual assaults against anyone is ungodly and wonders why prominent Christian and Muslim leaders have not come out strongly and publicly against the occurrence of the animalistic incidents. Dr. Arowolaju, who is also a healthcare professional, worries that “the traumatic and humiliation of sexual assault and rape can have a lifelong negative effects on a victim’s mental, physical and emotional health or even death like in the case of Ms. Uwalla.” The BAF CEO further cited what he called evidenced based research that showed that survivors of sexual assaults and rape, usually experience increased depressive symptoms, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including severe anxieties, nightmares/sleep disorders, suicidal thoughts or attempts and societal stigmas.
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BAF therefore called on the States and Federal governments, to forcefully enforce the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act of 2015, which prohibits all forms of violence against persons in private and public lives and provides maximum protection and effective remedies for victims and punishment of offenders. The organization also encouraged anyone experiencing a threat or being a victim of rape, to speak up and report the act to the police and other security agencies. Those who raped and murdered Uwalla and Barakat have murdered sleep and they should sleep no more. Enough should definitely be enough!
