I have been truly sad since I saw the trending hashtag #justiceforuwa and read the sordid details of the horrendous crime done to her.
Who will guarantee the safety of our lives? Where do we go for protection… for safety? Rape is a grievous offence and its victims may never recover. More often than not the scar remains for eternity. Why will anyone subject another to a lifetime of torture?
Uwa was not just raped, she was attacked with a fire extinguisher and died a painful death. In some Nigerian communities, a deceased who died as a result of rape and in the horrendous manner that Uwa died, will be buried in some “evil forest” or another community in a bid to “ward off evil and calamity.” Let us not even delve into that. The resulting effects from rape are just enormous.
Since I first came across the news of Uwa’s death, I have repeatedly tried to put pen on paper but no words… nothing feels right to say. Sadly, rape apologists and enablers have been all over the social media, ranting and bragging, victim-shaming and making light of what should be collectively condemned without recourse to sentiments.
How does anyone even make light of rape? Human life is sacrosanct and no one deserves to die in this manner. No one – male and female alike. Posterity will not forgive us as a society if we killed Uwa one last time by doing nothing to bring about justice. This crime must be strongly condemned in its entirety and stringent measures must be put in place to bring the perpetrator(s) to book, only then can she find justice.
“the end of the law is justice and woe is the law if it fails to produce the needed justice.”
– Unknown
As a child advocate, I wish to state that while it is true that males get raped too, it is however not the right time to peddle that narrative. First of all, it is certainly not the issue at hand. Secondly, it is not right to shut people up from speaking at this time. Thirdly, a girl was raped and it is what it is; we are not on about a male who was raped at the moment. Lastly and perhaps most importantly, it is plain wrong, distracting and selfish to do this each time we speak up for the girl child.
I will fail with this post if I do not point out that all men are not rapists and we do not live in fear of men generally. I have come across disturbing posts and articles that aim to paint that picture. I will not tow that line. Several hurtful and indifferent comments aimed at making light of the offence of rape especially with regards to the girl child have stemmed from arguments like that. We are humans, we have one race (the human race), we have one identity; we must unite in times like this to strongly condemn rape. It is not the time to bicker and pick little battles.
No one deserves to be raped and there is never an excuse for rape, NOT EVEN ONE! The fault always rests with the rapist whose eyes see nothing more than the satisfaction of selfish and sinful desires.
Together we must unite in the fight against rape. We must unite for justice. We must unite to say no to rape!
#istandforjustice
#justiceforuwa
#uniteforjustice
#istandwiththegirlchild
#togetherwecan
#saynotorape
Tamara's Addiction 