Dear Colossus Nigerian Community,
Listening to SHE MATTERS every Sunday afternoon, a radio broadcast message of Fresh FM, Ibadan that denudes the gallivanting activities of rapists in our communities infuriated my decision of writing and channelling my grievances to the “influential” quarters of the Nigerian community. The effects of rape and nefarious activities of rapists engulfing, exuding and dappling our society cannot be conformed to or protected anymore.
It is distressing and uncanny that the upsurge spread of rape stories, intravening the air like a sporadic disease cannot be underestimated, as it is decimating the innocent futures of the Nigerian society. Everyday, the media and the neighborhood cannot but divulge its own miserable and elegiac tales of rape which women and girls of different age range are plagued and harassed by these lunatic miscreants and hoodlumic neighbours. Rape is fast growing like a venereal disease, yet I wonder why these crops of hare-brained perpetrators still dawdle like kings on the streets effonterily without being adequately prosecuted.
Consequently, it is horrifying and disillusioning that rape cases in our contemporary association had become an empirical reference and gradually becoming the enamored stew which cannot be eschewed by these mentally deranged criminals. Take a simple gait on your street, and you’ll espy teenagers that are regularly mono- raped or gang-raped, unbuttoned, giggled at and generally assaulted like an animal by these rapists in a broad day light without fear.The erupting scenes of rape which are exhausted minute by minute are too heinous, you’ll tell me what you’ll say of some possessed step-fathers encroaching and pounding hard on their closed-mouthed step-daughters? Or what will you say of some sects of repudiated and dissipated members of the streets who delightedly perforates the retired entrance of aged frail women? It’s apparently disgusting that only the sufferers of these incidences are blamed, the offenders are not encumbered by any law or government, while little or nothing is done when cases of rapes are reported. This manifestly shows how unguarded our law could unveil itself.
Equally infuriating case was a reported story of an 18 year old lady in Lagos, who hawks as a means to eke out for living. It’s deplorable to divulge that this girl was dispassionately raped by a group of street lords since she refused to submit to their awkward sexual biddings. The nefarious acts of her rapist made her blatantly abnegated and discriminated from the society, however, she couldn’t but find her easiest solace in shuffling off the mortal coil.
More despicable is the enigma and eerie stands of how the people who claimed to be protecting us are found playing on the fetid sides of the story. The soldiers and policemen are most blameworthy of this accusation, their enfilades are fired at the timid victims of war who seems to be wearied and weak. No wonder the Amnesty International steadily points accusing fingers at the Nigerian government and its forces. Some vicious soldiers are always caught ensnaring the internally displaced families, and not bothering about the nearest kismet.
Having weighed these pestilence in its resilience, it’s imperative we all know that the war against rape is just like a flame thrower. Government efforts are too tender and exiguous, her laws are just too economical or not drastic enough for prosecution.
Seemingly, many readers would want to counter dissent or embroil in with me that most rape sufferers are architects of their own misfortunes, by wearing dishy and provocative clothes which can attracts the cults of rapists. Forsooth, this looks to have its own iota of truth, but what excuse will you give a veteran frenzied rapist who aggressively raped a six week old baby in Oyo State? Or what garbage of reasons will he tender for the gaucherie behaviour that descended on him like a strike of snow?
Dear intelligent readers, as I channel my annoyance to you this day, I want you all to once again consider this goading angst and questions, with the thought of why perpetrators still walk on the streets without being falsified and the thoughts of the lackluster response of justice administrators and institutions responsible for this impunity.
Finally, before the large vulnerable and pessimistic Nigerian community finally becomes despondent on the issues surrounding rape, I beseech our colossus community not to be carried away by these intrigues but carried into the alleviating fight against rape. Rape is not a fortuitous act, so it should not be treated evanescent. Perpetrators should never be kept fugitive, they should bear the measures of its consequences.
Therein, I plead with the concerned stakeholders and women activists to help enmeshing the rapists before they grow wings and become invisible. The lawmakers should make complex and drastic law that would kill the ego of their strength and send them on exile. Victims of rape also should not just expostulate and rant at the comfort on their homes but cry to the necessary quarters who can help fight until they are properly vindicated. We all should debouch from our deckchairs to desalinizing the system before the nearest Damocles strikes.
Your affectionate writer,
Ogungbile Emmanuel Oludotun.
