Opinion
We Can Curtail Rape
The Oxford Learners Dictionary defines rape as a forceful way of having intercourse with a person without his or her consent.
Sometimes it occurs under duress, as the woman or man is threatened with gun, matchete and other dangerous objects.
Despite efforts by relevant stakeholders to tackle the menace of rape in the society, rape cases have continued to rise.
On a daily basis, it is either a minor is raped or you hear of a full- fledged married or unmarried woman or man being raped.
Recently, a female student of University of Port Harcourt narrated to the press how she encountered a gang of rapists at Agip Junction, Mile 4 in Port Harcourt.
According to her, she vowed to die with them instead of being raped. At the end of the day, she sustained injury from a gunshot.
Last week, a woman in one of our local areas, also alleged how a man who claimed to be her husband’s friend, tricked her to give him a matchete to cut plantain. After cutting the plantain, he threatened her with the knife and allegedly raped her.
We have had several cases that are unreported because of stigmatisation and mockery in the society.
Yes, a lot of factors could be responsible for this. Some people say indecent dressing can cause it. When a woman dresses half naked which can tempt the rapist. There are those who see women in that circumstance but ignore it.
What does a three to four-year-old girl possess that will attract a man if it is not an evil or criminal intention to determine if that kind of action should take place.
The dangers associated with rape are enormous to the victim.
A legal expert says it is a criminal action against humanity. Criminal action in the sense that it was done without the consent of the victim on whom the action was taken. When she or he realises that it was carried out without their consent, they feels demoralised, abandoned, humiliated probably because nobody came to their rescue.
Social stigma in the neighborhood is another problem rape victims finds it difficult to mingle with others. They dissociates themselves from peers.
Depression is also associated with rape and lingers on to the extent that the victim feels that every social contact with a man or woman will lead to rape. Women and men no longer have peace. Anywhere you find yourself, you are apprehensive because one dirty human being may appear from nowhere to rape you.
According to medical experts, the health status of the rapist is unknown so the tendency of contracting Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) is possible, as well as HIV/AIDS.
On the part of the woman unwanted pregnancy is also a danger associated with rape case. If she is a virgin, the trauma resulting from that forceful penetration is huge. It can also cause injury to the genital area leading to ailments.
Now as a people we have to do something because this is an issue that is becoming scary. I would say that much has not been done and, over the decades, we have been feeling that something would be done.
We should not be raising a generation of people whose life ambition is to be hurting other people in their environment. It is heart-breaking to hear that three to nine-year-old children are raped.
We’ve been silent enough and we have to break this culture of silence. We are living in denial and we have to focus on the pressures and ills of the time we find ourselves. I think we must begin to take our destinies in our hands bearing in mind that we are human beings in a complex environment.
Some rapists may be psychologically sick and need help. A man may love his wife and still abuse her even to death. This is a form of imbalance and emotionally unstable person unable to manage himself. You see a situation where a man finishes beating his wife and starts begging for forgiveness. He needs a form of therapy.
We appeal to the government that provides the law which covers every society to protect the weak from the strong. The law should provide a balance for women and abused men.
It is highly condemnable when cases of rape against children and women are reported to the appropriate quarters and money is being demanded for proper documentation. Sometimes the perpetrator gets away with it.
As a result of frustration, an affected mother or father may decide to withdraw their case due largely to the fact that he or she does not have about N5000 to N10000 to offer before their case can be handled.
Law enforcement agents should be sensitised and better educated about this as it concerns women and even men. It can be anybody’s turn. When rape cases are reported, law enforcement agents should, as a matter of fact, follow it up to its logical conclusion.
While the efforts of some of the officers are commendable, much is still being expected.
A quicker justice system that is up and doing in terms of rape cases is highly needed. This demands the urgency that the matter requires, ensuring that the case does not drag for too long. When rape cases drag for too long it will be stressful on both the victims and their families. They may lose interest, decide to let it go even after paying money to a lawyer.
People should be held accountable for their actions. When this is done, rape victims will feel bold to speak up when they are abused.
One of the things preventing women from speaking out sometimes when they find themselves in abusive situations is the issue of mockery. Women should report rape cases to the appropriate quarters as early as possible, seek justice and surely they will be re-integrated into the society.
A victim should be able to speak out as soon as possible so that medical examination can be carried out when she encounters a rapist because he might be HIV/AIDS positive which he may secretly want to transmit to other people.
Girls should identify and ignore such boys and men who will always make nasty comments while moving on the streets. Avoiding unnecessary touch whether in private and public places will go a long way in curbing this ugly situation. Lonely places should be avoided, while men and boys should report any untoward behaviour from other men.
I’m not unaware that certain laws have been laid down for offenders of this but authorities saddled with this responsibility should ensure that those who cannot survive without raping children and women and men must be punished according to the laws stipulated by government at all levels.
By the time stiffer measures are taken to tackle this victims will heave a sigh of relief.
I call on all women groups to rise up in sensitisation of women on the dangers and consequences of rape. Creating awareness in schools for pupils and students, market women, offices on how women and men can defeat this monster called rape has become necessary.
By: Eunice Choko-Kayode
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
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.
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.
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