Adenike Sanusi
ABEOKUTA - The National Association of Ogun State Students (NAOSS) on Tuesday staged a peaceful walk against rape and other sexual violence offences in the country.
The National President of NAOSS, Comrade Gbemileke Ogunronmbi who led the students, said the walk was staged to register their displeasure against the incessant rape incidents in the country and to also create awareness against sexual violence acts.
The walk, took off at the Ogun State Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oke-Ilewo and terminated at the Governor's Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, the State capital.
The students carried placards with inscriptions such as: "There can't be peace for evil doers. Rapists are doomed", "Ogun students frown at rape", "Rape is a crime, desist from it", "The fight against rape is a collective effort", "Our security agencies should go haywire against rape matters" and "Rapists are devil's incarnates", among others.
The students were received by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Students' Matters, Comrade Azeez Adeyemi, Special Adviser on Political Matters, Hon. Biyi Adeleye, Special Adviser on Women Affairs, Hon. Motunrayo Adijat Adeleye and the Special Adviser on Government House, Hon. Babatunde Olaotan.
Speaking on behalf of the students, Ogunronmbi charged government at all levels to stand up against rape and other sexual violence offences.
Ogunronmbi noted that the aim of the walk was to sensitize and campaign against incessant rape of students in the country.
He decried the gruesome rape and killings of Tina Ezekwe, Uwavera Omozua, Barakat Bello and Jennifer that occurred recently among others, lamenting that such crimes had become worrisome and as such demand drastic and urgent steps to nip them in the bud.
Ogunronmbi also called for the strengthening of the judiciary to be able to fast track prosecution of rapists and sexual offenders, saying "a justice delayed is a justice denied."
He, however, commended Governor Dapo Abiodun for inaugurating the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Committee to ensure the development of an effective, comprehensive and coordinated response to cases of sexual and gender based violence in the State.
Ogunronmbi called for the inclusion of students in the Committee "as most of the victims of the heinous acts are students and hence the inclusion of the student constituency is vital and important."
He also applauded Governor Abiodun and his wife, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun for coming out openly to condemn rape and other sexual violence offences, saying both the Governor and his wife had laid a good example that such criminal acts would not be condoled in the State.
Ogunronmbi said, Governor Abiodun's stance against rape and other sexual violence offences showed that Ogun State would not be a safe haven for rapists and sexual offenders.
Addressing the students, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Students Matters, Comrade Adeyemi Azeez commended the students for embarking on the campaign against rape and other sexual violence offences.
He stressed that the administration of Governor Abiodun has total zero tolerance for rape and other violent crimes, assuring that the government would stop at nothing in ensuring that rapists, gender based violence and sexual offenders have no bidding place in the State.
Adeyemi assured the students of government's unalloyed support, saying the government would continue students friendly and as such make their demands known to the government.
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