Nigerians took their reactions and protests on the street of Lagos over the weekend to fight the rising cases of rape and violence against women. Tonto Dikeh, the Nigerian movie star made this known on her Instagram page “I joined @realwarripikin and others amazing NGO’s to hold a PEACEFUL PROTEST AGAINST GENDER BASES VIOLENCE, RAPE AND MURDER OF OUR YOUNG GIRLS AND WOMEN
TODAY WE SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH”
They were seen with banners of different inscriptions like “Respect my existence or expect my resistance…Domesticate the right Child immediately! Protect our Children! #stateofemergencyGBV”
Also, according to BBC report, in Nigeria’s main cities of Lagos and Abuja, rights campaigners have been out on the streets to express anger following several recent cases of sexual violence against young women – including gang rapes.
Here were the scenes outside the police headquarters in the capital city, Abuja:
Over the last week the hashtag #JusticeforUwa has been trending on social media after a 22-year-old student, Vera Omosuwa, was raped inside an RCCG Church and died two days later after being slammed with a fire extinguisher.
Amidst the coronavirus pandemic, Rape has been another distressing issue arising in Nigeria which has led to street protests and an online petition signed by thousands with a Twitter hashtag #WeAreTired. Lots of women carrying placards urged the authorities to do more to help protect women and girls and to seek justice for the victims.
Many Nigerians are tired of a legal system that makes it difficult to convict suspected rapists but rather put the faults on women who are victims of rape for not dressing properly or for some other nonsense reasons.
Violence against women should be a collective fight and it is a good thing that the men also are joining in the street protest.
We won’t stop this fight of gender bias, racism and discrimination that want to cripple our society.
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