EKET WOMEN STORMS MAJOR STREETS AGAINST RAPE

...rapists should be ostracised – Edidem Abia

In what could be describe as the mother of all protests in the state, the women of Eket local government area led by the wife of the Chairman, Mrs. Bright Archibong today stormed major streets in the local government to protest the high incidence of rape cases in the state. The women numbering in their hundreds said they are very angry hence decided to express their feelings by walking the street to show their support against this heinous crime in our society.
Addressing protesters at different strategic locations in the city, Mrs. Archibong said, "Our children are sexually abused and harassed. The future of our children cannot be ruined," calling for stiffer punishment for rapist and sexual violence against women.
“There is no excuse for rape, every rapist and gender-based violence must be punished, there is no room for rapist in Eket Local Government Area, this act can ruin women and we must all desist from it,” she said. She noted that women deserves respect and dignity, hence the need to protect them against any form of violence, calling on the men folk to stand firm to fight rape in Eket.
The Paramount Ruler of Eket, Edidem E. C. D. Abia while commending the women for mobilizing themselves to protest against rape, he stated emphatically that rapist should be ostracised in the community. He also pledged one hundred percent support to the women to tame rape in Eket.
A former Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Chief Nduese Essien has said that abandonment of societal values contributed much to increased rape cases. Essien made the attribution on Friday when some women protested rape and domestic violence in Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom.
He said that many Nigerians had abandoned their ways of life, adding that some families no longer cared for their children, especially the girls. He advised parents to give more attention to their children, saying that they needed care, encouragement and education.
The former minister said that there was the need for parents to educate their children on the dangers of rape.
“Parents have been so occupied, some are even leaving their homes early in search of money at the expense of taking care of their homes, and the children are not properly taken care of,” he said. He condemned rape and sexual violence against women, describing the increased rate as embarrassing to the country. The former minister urged that rapists should be adequately punished.
Essien expressed the hope that public sensitisation on the dangers of rape would reduce the crime. He commended the protesters for their peaceful conduct.
Earlier, the Chairman of Eket local government area, Hon. Frank Archibong while addressing the women at the Council Secretariat said, "We are gathered here today to carry out this peaceful protest against this taboo called rape. There is no room for rapist in Eket LGA. The trauma faced by rape victims can ruined their entire life. This immoral act must be brought to an end"
Hon. Archibong commended the wife of the governor, Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel for rising against rape and domestic violence, saying there is no justification for any moral assault against the women. He therefore called on chief, pastors, community leaders and teachers to be responsible in their domain by rising up against rape.
The women carried placards with different inscriptions such as “We say no to rape”, “Rapists must be punished”, “I stand against rape”, “No hiding place for rapists”, “No mercy for rapists”, “We condemn rape”, “Let’s protect our girl-child”,“Stop rape and violence against women”. “Rapist is a killer”, and “The punishment for rape is life imprisonment”.