Opinion
Any End To Child Sexual Abuse?
It may sound quite incredible and exaggerated, but it is true. Every year, not less than 60 million girls are sexually assaulted globally, not only by unknown persons outside their domains, but also by their own male relatives.
Recently, a Muslim cleric commented on Premium Times that “rape is on the increase mainly because moral bankruptcy has hit its peak”. He added that “women are no longer ashamed of exposing their bodies in public ….”.
The second part of the cleric’s comment could not go down well with many people, especially women. They considered such comment as insensitive, coming from a leader.
The women’s indignation was heightened by the death of a 14-year-old girl who was raped in her parents’ apartment. “Away from the public’s view, who did little Obiamaka Ngozichukwu Orakwe expose her body to at the moment of her violation? They queried.
No doubt, indecent dressing has popularly been tagged a bait for young men who lack control over their sexual urge. For this reason, religious bodies and organizations which uphold integrity in high esteem condemn it in its entirety. However, could that be considered a justification for young men to exhibit such bestiality, up to the point of raping their victims to death?
If indecent dressing is the catalyst for rape in Nigeria, then one may be tempted to ask if the countless number of babies, infants and children that have been violated were also provocatively dressed. How many women have been raped outside the shores of Nigeria where women are usually almost naked in the beaches? These are countries where premium is placed on women’s protection. It is quite unfortunate that while attentions are shifted to emerging events and ideas in other climes, we are here still talking about basic things as rape and how it is ravaging our society.
While I may not blame those who were angered by the cleric’s utterance, I think his words are not totally out of place. The first part of his comment speaks volume of the reason behind the emerging ugly trend of rape in our society. Moral bankruptcy has indeed hit its peak and I think the earlier the public at large realizes this with a view to addressing it, the better for all of us.
The issue of child sexual abuse occasioned by incessant rapes has indeed assumed a more disturbing dimension in Nigeria. Hardly will a day passes without news reports filled with gory details of one rape case or the other.
On the 3rd of May, 2017, for instance, we were all confronted with a bizarre incident where young boys from Ireti Grammar School at Obalende, Ikoyi axis of Lagos, physically attacked, sexually assaulted and attempted to rape their female counterparts from Falomo Senior High School in broad day light. To the shock of the Human Rights Community and concerned citizens, the law enforcement agencies said the incident should not be termed as ‘rape’, but mere students’ rivalry and indifferences.
Another recent sad incident involved a 14-year-old girl, Obiamaka Ngozichukwu Orakwe, who was raped to death in her parents’ apartment in Lagos State, by miscreants. She was neither walking on the street nor provocatively dressed. Right in her father’s house, they gagged her, took turns to gang-rape her and thereafter abandoned her in a pool of her blood and she bled to death.
Honestly speaking, the head aches, the mouth tastes bitter, the eyes release tears, while the skin actually dehydrates each time one ponders over the story of Obiamaka. This means that children are no longer safe anywhere. They are kidnapped and raped at school, yet no safety could be secured right in their parents’ hut. This is a big blow to the society and our moral values.
How we perceive or interprete rape determines how we confront it and how we would be able to tackle its menace. Yesterday, it was Jumoke, today Fatima; tomorrow, it may be the turn of Chiamaka to be raped and who knows how well the society would be able to handle it at such level.
Rape, which ever form it takes is a felony in Nigeria, it attracts a maximum punishment of life imprisonment and a minimum of 14 years imprisonment for attempted rape as stipulated by Section 357,358,359 and 360 of the Criminal Code. The culture of normalizing or trivializing sexual assault, blaming of victims or survivors rather creates a cycle of impunity for sexual crimes in Nigeria.
Although, the few cases that were officially reported were those perpetrated in the open, or such that led to the death of the raped, otherwise, the society seems to be deadened by the culture of silence, basically for fear of stigmatization, which may not be unconnected with the attitude of those whose duty it is to protect their subjects. Ordinarily, one expects that issues of rape of minors in Nigeria should be abating, but the truth remains that justice has not been well appropriated by those concerned in this regard.
Rape and all forms of sexual abuse have continued to thrive in Nigeria simply because of the unserious approach those in authority adopt in confronting them. Regrettably, under the watchful eyes of law enforcement agencies, perpetrators of rape, incest and other forms of child-sexual abuse get away with their crimes.
Obiamaka’s case is a test for Lagos State Government and the Federal Government. If nothing is done to bring the perpetrators to book, I’m afraid, the government may lose the will to combat rape menace in Nigeria.
Sylvia ThankGod-Amadi
Opinion
Restoring Order, Delivering Good Governance
The political atmosphere in Rivers State has been anything but calm in 2025. Yet, a rare moment of unity was witnessed on Saturday, June 28, when Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, appeared side by side at the funeral of Elder Temple Omezurike Onuoha, Wike’s late uncle. What could have passed for a routine condolence visit evolved into a significant political statement—a symbolic show of reconciliation in a state bruised by deep political strife.
The funeral, attended by dignitaries from across the nation, was more than a moment of shared grief. It became the public reflection of a private peace accord reached earlier at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. There, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu brought together Governor Fubara, Minister Wike, the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and other lawmakers to chart a new path forward.
For Rivers people, that truce is a beacon of hope. But they are not content with photo opportunities and promises. What they demand now is the immediate lifting of the state of emergency declared in March 2025, and the unconditional reinstatement of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Dr. Ngozi Odu, and all suspended lawmakers. They insist on the restoration of their democratic mandate.
President Tinubu’s decision to suspend the entire structure of Rivers State’s elected leadership and appoint a sole administrator was a drastic response to a deepening political crisis. While it may have prevented a complete breakdown in governance, it also robbed the people of their voice. That silence must now end.
The administrator, retired naval chief Ibok-Ette Ibas, has managed a caretaker role. But Rivers State cannot thrive under unelected stewardship. Democracy must return—not partially, not symbolically, but fully. President Tinubu has to ensure that the people’s will, expressed through the ballot, is restored in word and deed.
Governor Fubara, who will complete his six-month suspension by September, was elected to serve the people of Rivers, not to be sidelined by political intrigues. His return should not be ceremonial. It should come with the full powers and authority vested in him by the constitution and the mandate of Rivers citizens.
The people’s frustration is understandable. At the heart of the political crisis was a power tussle between loyalists of Fubara and those of Wike. Institutions, particularly the State House of Assembly, became battlegrounds. Attempts were made to impeach Fubara. The situation deteriorated into a full-blown crisis, and governance was nearly brought to its knees.
But the tide must now turn. With the Senate’s approval of a record ?1.485 trillion budget for Rivers State for 2025, a new opportunity has emerged. This budget is not just a fiscal document—it is a blueprint for transformation, allocating ?1.077 trillion for capital projects alone. Yet, without the governor’s reinstatement, its execution remains in doubt.
It is Governor Fubara, and only him, who possesses the people’s mandate to execute this ambitious budget. It is time for him to return to duty with vigor, responsibility, and a renewed sense of urgency. The people expect delivery—on roads, hospitals, schools, and job creation.
Rivers civil servants, recovering from neglect and under appreciation, should also continue to be a top priority. Fubara should continue to ensure timely payment of salaries, address pension issues, and create a more effective, motivated public workforce. This is how governance becomes real in people’s lives.
The “Rivers First” mantra with which Fubara campaigned is now being tested. That slogan should become policy. It must inform every appointment, every contract, every budget decision, and every reform. It must reflect the needs and aspirations of the ordinary Rivers person—not political patrons or vested interests.
Beyond infrastructure and administration, political healing is essential. Governor Fubara and Minister Wike must go beyond temporary peace. They should actively unite their camps and followers to form one strong political family. The future of Rivers cannot be built on division.
Political appointments, both at the Federal and State levels, must reflect a spirit of fairness, tolerance, and inclusivity. The days of political vendettas and exclusive lists must end. Every ethnic group, every gender, and every generation must feel included in the new Rivers project.
Rivers is too diverse to be governed by one faction. Lasting peace can only be built on concessions, maturity, and equity. The people are watching to see if the peace deal will lead to deeper understanding or simply paper over cracks in an already fragile political arrangement.
Wike, now a national figure as Minister of the FCT, has a responsibility to rise above the local fray and support the development of Rivers State. His influence should bring federal attention and investment to the state, not political interference or division.
Likewise, Fubara should lead with restraint, humility, and a focus on service delivery. His return should not be marked by revenge or political purges but by inclusive leadership that welcomes even former adversaries into the process of rebuilding the state.
“The people are no longer interested in power struggles. They want light in their streets, drugs in their hospitals, teachers in their classrooms, and jobs for their children. The politics of ego and entitlement have to give way to governance with purpose.
The appearance of both leaders at the funeral was a glimpse of what unity could look like. That moment should now evolve into a movement-one that prioritizes Rivers State over every personal ambition. Let it be the beginning of true reconciliation and progress.
As September draws near, the Federal government should act decisively to end the state of emergency and reinstate all suspended officials. Rivers State must return to constitutional order and normal democratic processes. This is the minimum requirement of good governance.
The crisis in Rivers has dragged on for too long. The truce is a step forward, but much more is needed. Reinstating Governor Fubara, implementing the ?1.485 trillion budget, and uniting political factions are now the urgent tasks ahead. Rivers people have suffered enough. It is time to restore leadership, rebuild trust, and finally put Rivers first.
By: Amieyeofori Ibim
Amieyeofori Ibim is former Editor of The Tide Newspapers, political analyst and public affairs commentator
Opinion
Checking Herdsmen Rampage
Do the Fulani herdsmen have an expansionists agenda, like their progenitor, Uthman Dan Fodio? Why are they everywhere even the remotest part of other areas in Nigeria harassing, maiming, raping and killing the owners of the land?”
In a swift reaction, The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) decried and strongly condemned the invasion by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
In his denunciation, MOSOP President Fegalo Nsuke described the incident as very unfortunate and deeply troubling, warning against a recurrence of the violence experienced in Benue State. “The killing of yesterday is bad and very unfortunate. We are getting preliminary information about how the herders gained access to the farmland, and it appears some hoodlums may be collecting money and granting access illegally.”
He called on the Hausa community in Rivers State to intervene swiftly to prevent further attacks.
“We want the Hausa community in Rivers State to take urgent action to ensure these issues are resolved”.
But will such appeal and requests end the violent disposition of the Fulani herdsmen? It is not saying something new that the escalating threat and breach of peace across the country by the Fulani herdsmen or those suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, leaves much to be desired in a country that is bedevilled by multi-dimensional challenges and hydra-headed problems.
Some upland Local Government Areas of Rivers State, such as Etche, Omuma, Emohua, Ikwerre, Oyigbo, Abua, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, have severally recounted their ordeals, as herdsmen invaded farmlands, destroyed crops, raped female farmers and killed protestant residents.
Again the wanton destruction of lives and properties which no doubt has overwhelmed the Nigerian Police, makes the clamour for State Police, indispensable. The National Assembly should consider the amendment of the Constitution to allow States to have their Statutory policing agencies.
Opinion
Is Nigeria Democratic Nation?
As insurgency has risen to an all time high in the country were killings has now grown to be a normal daily activity in some part of the nation it may not be safe to say that Nigeria still practices democracy.
Several massacres coming from the Boko Haram and the herdsmen amongst all other insurgencies which have led to the destruction of homes and killing, burning of communities especially in the northern part of the country. All these put together are result of the ethnic battles that are fought between the tribes of Nigeria and this can be witnessed in Benue State where herders and farmers have been in constant clashes for ages. They have experienced nothing but casualties and unrest.
In the month of June 13-14, the Yelwata attack at the Guma Local Government Area by suspected gunmen or herdsmen who stormed the houses of innocent IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) claiming the lives of families, both adults and children estimated to be 200 victims. They were all burnt alive by these unknown gunmen.
This has been recorded as one of the deadliest insurgencies that had happened in recent years. Some security personnel that were trying to fight the unknown gunmen also lost their lives.
Prior to the Yelewata attack, two days before the happening, similar conflict took place in Makurdi on June 11, 2025. 25 people were killed in the State. Even in Plateau State and the Southern Kaduna an attack also took place in the month of June.
All other states that make up the Middle Belt have been experiencing the farmers/herders clash for years now and it has persisted up till recent times, claiming lives of families and children, homes and lands, escalating in 2025 with coordinated assaults.
Various authorities and other villagers who fled for safety also blamed the herdsmen in the State for the attack that happened in Yelwata community.
Ehebha God’stime is an Intern with The Tide.
-
News22 hours ago
Police Rescue Kidnapped Victim As Suspects Escape With Gunshots in Rivers
-
Politics21 hours ago
Tinubu’s Contribution To Buhari’s Presidency Marginal – Ex-SGF
-
Opinion22 hours ago
How Reliable Is AI
-
News19 hours ago
RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others
-
Politics22 hours ago
Keyamo Inaugurates Ganduje As FAAN Board Chair
-
News22 hours ago
Demonstrate Commitment In Improving Host Communities, Ibas Tells Corps Members
-
Politics21 hours ago
Reps Constitution Review Committee Holds Zonal Hearing For Rivers, C’River, Akwa Ibom In Calabar
-
Opinion22 hours ago
Is Nigeria Democratic Nation?