By Chinelo Nwangene
The death of Miss Vera Uwaila Omozuwa, a 100 level Microbiology student of the University of Benin in the aftermath of a horrific sexual assault inside a church in Benin-City last weekend has ignited another nationwide outrage over rising sexual violence against women in Nigeria, especially in worship centers, which demands for justice and protection.
When Miss Omozuwa took her books to read at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Ohovbe road branch, near Ikpoba Hill in Benin City, on May 27, 2020, she was convinced that the church auditorium was the safest and most convenient place for her all-night private study session.
The 22-year-old Microbiology scholar, was already making advanced preparation for the lifting of the coronavirus-imposed shutdown of schools. Unknown to her, death was lurking in the shadow, as yet-to-be identified assailants were on her trail.
According to Ufuoma Akpobi, of the Association Against Child Sexual and Gender-Based Violence network in Edo state, Uwa had studied at the church for the past three years because there’s no public library in the area.
“She goes in the morning and comes back between 5.30 and 6pm. Omozuwa’s study session that fateful Wednesday night ended on a tragic note, when the assailants that sneaked into the church auditorium undetected, allegedly raped her in turns before smashing her head with a fire extinguisher and fled the scene, leaving her half-dead.
The church’s security guard later found the victim unconscious, in the pool of her blood and raised alarm before she was rushed to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU), it was already too late. She had already lost too much blood from the deep cuts she sustained from the attack, and efforts to save her life failed.
“When we got to the church, we thought she was dead, but later found out she was moving her hand. That was how we moved her to the hospital. It was from there that she was taken to the UBTH, Benin, but unfortunately, she died on May 30, 2020, at about 10.15pm,” a source said.
The tragic death of the Uniben undergraduate drew widespread outrage since the news went viral on the social media. The University of Benin, where Uwa studied, said the “shocking crime should not be condoned by any society”.
Although, Edo state police command launched an investigation into the murder of the student following calls from rights groups, public figures and government officials demanding a thorough inquiry and justice, tension was still high over the issue.
On Monday, a group of protesters dressed in black, including Uniben students, marched to Edo state police headquarters in Benin City, demanding that the perpetrators of the crime be brought to book. The call for arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators have also been trending on the social media, especially Twitter, under the hatch tag #JusticeForUwa.
Many commentators expressed fears and frustrations over the rising wave of sexual attacks on young women in Nigeria and lack of justice due to beliefs that rape victims were responsible for their ordeals.
Genevieve Mmiliaku shared her frustrations over the rape pandemic in Nigeria and attempts to justify it. She highlighted the rape dilemma Nigerian women face: “When we get raped in a night club or in our male neighbour’s house, male friend’s house or boyfriend’s house, people would say ‘what were you looking for in a man’s house?’ You must have seduced him, now you want to ruin his life.
“We are grabbed and raped while coming home from work in the evening or while walking down a lonely street. People would say ‘why were you out late? What were you wearing? Why did you go out alone?’
“When we get gang raped by armed robbers, people would tell you ‘don’t let anyone hear about this because it will ruin your reputation. No man would want to marry you if he knew you were raped, you are now a damaged good. Sorry, just forget about it, God will judge them.
“When we get raped by our husbands, people would say he paid your parents for you, so, he has the right to have sex with you whenever he wants. If you refuse, he’ll do it by force. He owns you. Our law doesn’t recognise spousal rape; a man can’t rape his wife. Next time he wants sex, give it to him or he’ll take you by force. He has needs and it’s your duty as his wife to satisfy him wherever he wants.
“When we get raped or sexually harassed at work, people would say it’s because of how you dress and carry yourself. You complain too much, get over it. You are not the first, quit if you can’t stand it. After all, there are millions of unemployed people waiting to grab the opportunity’.
“When we get raped by a religious leader, people would say ‘Touch not my anointed…’ Leave it for God to judge; don’t allow the devil use you to fight God’s servant. Forgive and forget, it is well’.
“When we get raped in our home by a relative or close family friend, people would tell you to keep quiet and never talk about it. Let this be a family secret. Do you want to ruin our family name? Do you want to ruin his life, your brother’s life?
“Worse is that over 95 percent of these rapists are walking freely; no justice! Yet, if we talk, they will call us man haters and bitter feminists.
“When would our voices be heard and laws made and followed to protect us and our rights? When would men stop raping, violating and hurting us? When would we be free to live our lives without being afraid that men would attack us? When would society stop blaming us for the injustice and brutality we experience? When would society stop trying to stifle us?
“Is it a crime to be born a female? Why must we always have to fight to be seen, heard, protected, treated right and just be?”
Dr. Dípò Awójídé also reacted: “Few days ago, #JusticeForTina was trending. Today, it is #JusticeForUwa. The Nigerian state must do everything to protect our young girls. Their lives matter and any criminal who attacks them must be brought to justice.”
Osai Ojigho, the director for Amnesty International in Nigeria, said Omozuwa’s horrific rape and murder “resonates because, even in the spaces that women and girls should be safest from gender-based violence, the home, the schools and now places of worship, it is getting there”.
Ojigho also blamed government’s inaction for the rising wave of sexual violence in Nigeria.
“The method the state has been going over the years, clearly, has not moved with the intensity required to deter rapists and potential rapists and to protect women and girls,” she said.
Kemi Yesufu, a human rights activist and social critic, however, expressed frustrations over government’s tepid response to the rising rape crisis in Nigeria.
“More women are speaking out as victims of rape, sexual harassment and molestation, and the statistics points to a need for drastic action.I hope we don’t wake up soon to see Nigeria take over from India and South Africa as rape capitals of the world. Until those, who control power in Nigeria stop seeing rape as the fault of the victims and take drastic action as done with other violent crimes, like armed robbery and kidnapping, Nigeria may soon dethrone South Africa and India.
“If we had FSARS, we have anti-kidnapping squads, why not raise a team of police officers, who handle sexual violence in all states and equip state commands to scientifically investigate and properly prosecute rape cases? States should domesticate the VAPP Act and activate sex offender registers in their domains.”
Yesufu urged women to rise up and use their voting power to demand for more protection of women and girls against sexual violence from their political leaders. “It’s no longer time to pretend about the spike in sexual crime in Nigeria,” she added.
Senator Ajede Uche, a human rights activist and the Coordinator of the CDHR, Abraka, Delta state unit, also demanded for arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators of the rape and murder of the student, insisting that justice must take its full course.
He writes: “Uwa’s death breaks my heart. With what has been happening to the girl-child in our society since time immemorial, we all have to admit that the society has failed woefully in the raising of the male-child. The society didn’t raise the male child to respect and care for the girl-child in our society which is the challenge we are facing today. The society concentrated too much on the conduct of the female child when it’s actually the male child, who have the higher propensity to do evil and harm the girl-child in every given opportunity.
Another commentator, Miss Lighthouse Beacon, however, raised the alarm over the rate of sexual misconduct perpetrated by clergymen and others against women inside church.
“As a Nigerian woman, you are not a real “church goer”; if you have not experienced sexual abuse/harassment from a pastor or choirmaster. These men are everywhere. Men that think a woman’s body is there for the taking. They will harass you, abuse you and take you by whatever means.
“Almost every single one of my friends have been harassed by a pastor, including me. So, it’s not a surprise to me that some men raped a girl in the church. It could even be her fellow church members or church workers that hang around the church. Let’s not act like it’s incredible that the rape happened in church. The church is one of the most evil places you can go,” she added.
Mazi Olisaemeka C @OlisaOsega also reacted: “This innocent young lady was raped in church, then, brutally slayed. A church is supposed to be the safest place for anyone. So, if something like this is happening in church, I really don’t know anymore. It’s heartbreaking!”