Obiano Issues Quit Notice To Rapists

IKENNA ANIAGBOSO 

The Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, has issued the final warning to rapists and other sex offenders in the state vehemently threatening that anybody found guilty of sexual crimes would face the full wrath of the law. 

Governor Obiano spoke through the Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, Lady Ndidi Mezue, during the fifth edition of ‘Meet the Media’, an interactive exposé of the achievements of the Obiano administration, organized by the Governor’s media team in Awka. 

Reacting to questions from the team, Lady Mezue confirmed that the Anambra State Government under Gov Obiano has taken a firm position against rapists and sexual offenders in the state. 

She also disclosed that the Obiano administration had set up the Anambra State Child Right Implementation Committee, ANSCRIC, to enforce the law against molestation, sexual violation of any kind and rape of any Anambra child especially the girl child.

Describing rape as a social vice and infernal pandemic of sorts, the Commissioner decried the rising cases of the unholy act. She however, clarified that the number of reported rape cases in the state appeared to be increasing because of the level of awareness created by the state government which has encouraged and emboldened victims to come forward with their stories. 

According to her “On September 17, 2019, Gov Obiano established NTASI – a sexual assault referral centre at Enugwu-Ukwu in collaboration with the Rule of Law and Anti Corruption, ROLAC, an agency under the Brithish Council and European Union, to receive reports from and offer counseling to victims”.

“So far, we have recorded 103 cases at the referral centre “, she said. “There, we have qualified doctors and medical support staff to examine victims. We counsel them and refer cases to the legal department who prosecute them through the Ministry of Justice”, she further stated.

Continuing, the commissioner advised parents and guardians and indeed all victims of rape and sexual assault to break the culture of silence and stigmatization often associated with such cases. “Do not keep quiet and condone evil. Report to the centre and be assured that the state government will not only protect you but fight to ensure that every vile offender is brought to justice”, she said.

Lady Mezue emphasized that government would continue to fight the evil menace of rape. “We will not allow rapists any room in Anambra state. Gov Obiano has issued strict directives to prosecute rapists and all sexual offenders under the Child Protection Law of 2014 and Violence Against Persons Law of 2017 enacted by the Anambra state government”, she stated. The laws stipulate a jail term of 14 years to life imprisonment for offenders.