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Female Rape, Defilement, Inimical to Societal Growth, Dev. – CDHR
By Oguns Sammy, Warri
The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Udu Unit, has condemned in strong terms the act of rape and defilememts of female in the society, saying it is lnimical to societal growth and development.
The Coordinator of Udu Unit of CDHR, Comrade (Amb) Derrick Oritsematosan Agberen, disclosed this over the weekend when speaking with news men in Udu, Udu Local Government Area, Delta State
Comrade (Amb) Agberen spoke on the recent petition the unit received on the 23rd February 2021 from one Mrs Oluwabe Joy Durume whose 15- year-old daughter, Miss Tracy Tebite was allegedly raped by one Tega and his cohorts namely Rona, Gidieon and Itse.
Udu Local Government Area Unit of CDHR boss said the body condemned this act of rape in Udu Local Government Area, Delta State and the country at large.
He said: “This address becomes necessary because we have heard cases of female rapes/defilememts in Nigeria and more recently on the 23rd of February, 2021, a case of rape/defilememt of one Miss Tracy Tebite was reported to our office and we are not resting on our oars until justice is done in this regard.”
In a letter written to the CDHR office, Udu Unit, Mrs Oluwabe Joy Durume explained how the daughter, Miss Tracy Tebite was allegedly drugged and rapped on the 24th of January 2021 when she (Tracy Tebite) went out with her friend, Itse Tenumah.
Part of the letter reads thus:’ “Tracy went out with her friend Itse Tenumah. Itse told Tracy to follow her out. When they got to 316 Bar, she saw some of her friends namely: Gidieon, Tega, Rona and Lawrence. Then, they offered her (Tracy) a cocktail drink at about 6pm. Tracy Tebite told Itse that they should be leaving but Itse said they should wait till 7am and before she (Tracy) knew it, she slept off and only to wake up to discover that she been rapped…’.
Comrade (Amb) Agberen said on getting the report, they did not rest but quickly reported the matter to the Divisional Police Officer of Ovwian/Aladja Police who in turn immediately swung into action by arresting three other suspects namely Rona, Gidieon and Itse while the main suspect, Tega was at large.
Comrade Amb Agberen commended the DPO of Ovwian/Aladja Division for the role he played to ensure that justice is done just as he condemned parents who succumb to a round table settlement after financial offers are made to the family of the victim
Comrade (Amb) Agberen used the medium to appeal to the goverment that there is urgent need for the law under the criminal code of Nigeria to be ammeded and made to protect the girl child from the interest of their parents who may give into financial settlement through round table meeting with suspects’ family rather than allow the law to take its course.
He added that the police are limited to charging tape/defilememt cases to court once the victims are not ready to testify but prefer settlement over justice, adding that this has further encouraged rape/ defilememts in the society as the suspects know they can easily buy their way out as a result of the victims’ parents accepting financial inducement.
He said: “Rape is a criminal offence people should desist from it other wise when caught will face the wrath of the law.”