The Chairperson, House of the Representatives Press Corps, Comrade Grace Ike, on Wednesday, canvassed for government fully funded compensation scheme for victims of rape and violent crimes in the country as emotional and psychological trauma and mental health continue to deteriorate among assaulted Nigerians,
Comrade Ike who is also the Vice Chairperson of the Correspondents Chapel, of the Nigerian Union of Journalists NUJ, Federal Capital Territory FCT, Abuja, Council made the call in her remarks during the launch of a book titled ‘Tears from the Grave’, a publication by Mr Lemmy Ughegbe of the Men Against Rape Foundation, MARF, in Abuja.
The book is dedicated to the memory of victims of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).
She expressed dismay over the absence of funds for compensation for the victims which would been set aside for the full rehabilitation of victims to restart their lives again, describing it as a critical gap that demanded urgent attention.
“The statistics are alarming—a recent survey in Nigeria revealed that 31.4 per cent of sexually active adolescent females and 5.7% of males experienced forced sex (rape) at sexual initiation.
“It is truly heartbreaking when individuals, regardless of age or gender, fall victim to such abhorrent acts. The normalization of sexual violence is spreading like wildfire, leaving victims in unimaginable physical and psychological anguish
“Every day, we are confronted with distressing accounts of girls and women enduring unspeakable trauma due to sexual violence. What is even more disturbing is the growing trend of perpetrators committing murder, killing their victims after these heinous acts—an act that must be condemned in the strongest terms.
“SGBV knows no boundaries—it transcends age, ethnicity, color, socioeconomic status, and geography.
“While the list of victims in Nigeria is extensive, many cases remain unreported due to fear of stigma and inadequate support systems.
“Despite existing legislation imposing severe penalties for SGBV offenses, prosecution rates remain dismally low. Victims often shy away from reporting due to fear of stigma and the arduous legal process.
“I am particularly troubled by the absence of a government-funded compensation scheme for victims of sexual and violent crimes in Nigeria. This is a critical gap that demands urgent attention from our policymakers.”
However, she called on CSOs to ensure justice for SGBV victims and also appealed to the National and State Assemblies to establish special courts basically for sexual offenses across the country.
“Furthermore, civil society organizations such as the Men Against Rape Foundation play a pivotal role in advocating for the rights of SGBV victims and ensuring they receive the justice and support they deserve.
“I call upon our lawmakers at the national and state levels to prioritize the establishment of Sexual Offenses Courts across the country, modeled after successful initiatives in Lagos and other regions.
“Once again, I want to express my deep appreciation to Mr. Lemmy Ugegbe and the dedicated team at the Men Against Rape Foundation for not just coming up with this initiative but for your relentless pursuit of justice.
“I have been following your activities, especially on the case of one Karen, a teenage victim who also lost her life as a result of rape and many other cases. You people are doing an extremely difficult job but I pray that God will continue to give you the courage, strength, financial enablement, and grace to accomplish this onerous task.
“Together, let us stand united against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence. We must continue to strive for a society where every individual lives free from the fear of violence and injustice,” she added.
