Women in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State have called on the relevant authorities to introduce the death penalty for perpetrators of rape, especially, those who rape minors.

This call was in reaction to an alleged rape of a 6 year old minor in Finima Community in Bonny LGA by one Hope Chidiebere, an indigene of Abia State but resident in Finima, Bonny LGA.  

In a telephone chat with Kristina Reports, Vice Chairman of Bonny LGA, Anengi Barasua stated that the law will take its full course in the case, asserting that “my stand is always against rape. There is no human being that will support rape, worse still the rape of a child’.

“It is unlawful, it is not in human nature. So, as women, we don’t deal kindly with such person. So, the law will take its course and I condemn that act in its totality.”

She disclosed that the suspected rapist allegedly violated the 6 year old girl by taking advantage of her, saying that from the medical examination conducted on the child at the General Hospital, Bonny, it was clear that the little girl was violated.

“We got the girl examined and got a doctor’s report and it was obvious that the guy forcefully took advantage of the girl, he violated her. That done we tried to get medical treatment for the girl and I discussed with the IPO in charge of the matter and he told me that further investigation will be done and then the boy will be prosecuted.”

Suspected rapist, Hope Chidiebere

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Anengi Barasua, who is the first female Vice Chairman of Bonny LGA, further disclosed that a coalition of women groups in the area were building a critical mass to bolster the fight against rape incidents and perpetrators of the heinous act. 

“Like I always say, Bonny men are not known to be rapists. I don’t know where this menace is creeping in from. But we – myself and other women of integrity – are joining forces to ensure that we put a stop to it and whoever is the culprit that is caught whether in the act or after the act we will ensure that that person is brought before the law and dealt with according to the law.

In a telephone chat with Kristina Reports, a social influencer, advocate for women’s rights and philanthropist, Miranda Tay-Brown also added her voice to the clamour to get justice for the violated girl, saying that the ultimate deterrent for rape is the death sentence for perpetrators of rape.

Tay-Brown, who was the Good Samaritan who took the girl to the General Hospital, Bonny, where she was examined and treated, urged the relevant authorities and law enforcement agencies to do more to protect the girl child from the menace of rapists.

The suspected rapist, Hope Chidiebere, a home lesson tutor, was said to have also attempted raping a 4 year old and another 8 year old girl at different times earlier this year.