Seven Jailed For Rape In A’Ibom, 30 Others In Court

The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare in Akwa Ibom, Dr Glory Edet, has revealed that seven persons have been sent to jailed for rape, while 30 rape cases are ongoing in various courts in the state.

The commission stated that the achievement was recorded by the state government between between 2017 and this year.

She stated that the Child Rights Law and the protection of the vulnerable in the society will continue to the priority of Governor Udom Emmanuel administration.

She called on other states in the federation to adopt and implement the Child Rights Law without further delay.

The commissioner said rape cases and similar crimes would be curtailed if states with domesticate and fully implement the Child Rights Law.

“When I called for the domestication of the Child Rights Law, I don’t mean only domestication but emphasis on implementation. It is one thing to domesticate it, but another thing to implement it. I want to thank our governor, Udom Emmanuel for implementing the law in the state because anything that has to do with child abuse, falls under the Child Rights Law.

“So far between last year and now, seven persons have been convicted and jailed while we have 30 cases in courts. I want to thank the judiciary who has been sending their lawyers to assist us in court, court assessors, the women lawyers and other NGOs for their supports in the course of trying these cases.

“We have created a lot of awareness in schools, churches and other public places on the punishment associated with rape, child trafficking and other child abuses. We do not publicize rape cases so that the victim should not be stigmatized; in the Child Rights Law, you have to protect the child from trauma and psychological stress” 
she said.

On benefits from her ministry to Akwa Ibom women, she explained that, in the current local government administration, 56 women are serving as councilors and more than 57 are also serving as supervisory councilors across the 31 local government councils in the state, adding that, most permanent secretaries, Head of service, board members, commissioner, House Members are women.

“Governor Udom Emmanuel government is the first to send widows to pilgrimage in Israel, five widows each were taken from the 31 local government councils and sent for pilgrimage; again, 155 women, five each from the 31 council areas are given N200,000 grants for trading in their businesses”. she added.