The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has pledged the commitment of his administration to deal ruthlessly with anyone found guilty of any form or act of sexual violence and other related offences.
The governor made the vow on Monday, when he received Anti-Sexual and Gender rally led by his wife, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun, at his Oke-Mosan in Abeokuta, the state capital.
In his address, Governor Abiodun said all cases affecting the safety of women would receive urgent attention while culprits would be dealt with regardless of their class or status.
He said that his administration had also charged its public prosecution team to ensure that all cases relating to violence against women are fast-tracked and offenders brought to book.
Abiodun also noted that his administration had put in place a committee – the Violence against Persons Prohibition Committee – to ensure sensitisation on the issues surrounding the illegal acts would also educate victims on stigmatisation.
He noted that a law was passed in 2017 as regards sexual violence, but that nothing had happened in the state in protecting the victims.
“On May 13th, we set up a committee, the Violence against Persons Prohibition Committee. There is a law that was passed in 2017, but nothing happened.
“What we did was to sit down with our Attorney General and the rest of our team and this committee was charged to look into all the issues that have to do with the girl-child, women abuse, all forms of abuse against women. This we did before the incident of the girl in Edo state,” he said
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He also disclosed that the walk against violence staged by high-profile women, on Monday, in the state was a profound one.
He added that violence against women in any sort, either domestic violence or rape cannot be accepted in the state.
“It is very profound that this walk to further emphasise our objection to violence against women in any sort – either domestic violence or rape – is not acceptable; it is not only acceptable, but it is also a crime,” he said.
The governor noted that his administration had taken up the case of a lady that was recently raped in the state.
He added that the lady in question had suffered spinal cord injuries as a result of multiple rape incidence.
“The girl in Edo State is just one case of rape too many because we had a similar case in Ogun State. It didn’t get the utmost attention. The young lady is Joy by name. She is currently in a hospital in Lagos where she is being treated.
“She suffered spinal cord injuries from these multiple rapes. We are undertaking medical expenses. We must appreciate and underscore that violence against a woman, is violence against someone’s sister, aunt, daughter or mother. Indeed, it could be anyone of us,” he said
