By Mike Adeyemi
A traditional ruler of Ojoku in Kwara State, His Royal Highness (Oba) Abdulrazaq Adegboyega Afolabi has urged government to ensure stiffer penalty to curb the incessant rape cases in Nigeria.
The Olojoku of Ojoku, stated this while receiving members of a Non-Governmental Organisation, International Women Communication Centre (IWCC) in his palace, recently.
The royal father suggested castration as a means towards reducing the incidence of rape in the country.
“It is pertinent at this time for the government to make castration consequence for sexual assault against women.
“There is no penalty that is too severe for violators of women’s right. And it is high time a stringent punishment is enacted by the legislature to curb the menace in the society,” Olojoku stressed.
He, however, appreciated the International Women Communication Centre for taking COVID-19 awareness to his domain.
“Prior now, the people of Ojoku had strictly adhered to all the precautionary measure to curtail the spread of the novel Coronavirus.
“With this campaign by IWCC, it would further strengthen the awareness among our people and bring about healthy living,” he added.
Meanwhile, the NGO has taken its advocacy campaign for awareness on COVID-19 to the grassroots in Kwara State.
This formed part of its week- long sensitisation campaign against gender -based violence and enlightenment toward curbing the spread of Coronavirus.
The NGO took it’s campaign to Ojoku and Shao in Oyun and Moro Local Government Areas respectively.
In her remarks at the places visited, President of IWCC, Dr. Nimota Goroso charged the people of to speak up against gender-based violence.
She said the increase in rape cases in the country calls for concern and the earlier women rise against the societal vice the better.
On the pandemic, Goroso added that COVID-19 is real and urged people at the grassroots not to downplay its presence.
“We can curb this virus by adhering to all the laid down precautions as directed by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. It is by so doing that we can ameliorate the spread of Coronavirus in our society.
“We have to educate our girl and boy child. Economic empowerment, shelter, helps lines for women should be considered an essential service,” Goroso stressed.
Speaking with newsmen shortly after the programme, Wife of Ohoro of Shao, Olori Mary Adegbite applauded the IWCC for the sensitisation, noting that many people do not know that COVID-19 is a reality.
