By Gift Chapi Odekina
The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government and the Nigeria police force and the National security intelligence for an urgent intervention to fast track the investigations and ensure that the killers of Miss Oluwabamise Ayanwola are brought to justice.
This was as the House frowned against rampant cases if violence, incessant rape and ritual killing of women in the country.
This followed a motion of urgent national importance during plenary in Abuja.
Moving the motion, Elumelu noted that the rising cases of violence, incessant rape and ritual killing of female Nigerians by criminally minded persons in various parts of the country, is alarming, worrisome and therefore the need for urgent reaction.
He further noted that the incessant attacks are hindering national productivity as it is occurring amongst people in the productive age group who are having to deal with the negative physical and psychological consequences of the vice.
“Aware that in the last six weeks so many incidents have occurred that have made headlines and the recent being that of 22yr old miss Oluwabamise Ayanmola whose corpse was found on Carter Bridge at ogogoro Community in lagos Island nine days after being declared missing by her family with some vital parts missing.
“Further aware that Oluawabamise was last seen on the 26th day of February 2022 after boarding a BRT bus number 240257 at about 7pm around chevron bus stop.
“Disturbed that there are allegations that the BRT driver earlier confessed of having canal knowledge of late miss bamise before killing her and harvesting some vital organs only for the story to change after some influential Nigerians intervened on his behalf.
“Further disturbed that many of these cases are under reported because of the stigma attached to such incidences and the molestation attached to it by the security agents when such reports are made.
“Worried that according to the Nigeria stability and reconciliation program, approximately 80 million Nigerian women and girls are victims of gender based violence, which in turn fosters the spread of sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV, lack of self confidence of victims and in most recent cases death.
He added that if serious sensitization on the preventive and elimination of gender based violence was not embarked on to curb the menace, young girls and women across Nigeria will keep falling victims to sexual assault, rape and continuous ritual killings.
He expressed concerns that Nigerians must realise that the fight demands action from everyone , hence the need to sing with a loud voice that there is no place in our country for those who commit these sort of violence and this can be achieved by adopting a multi-facet approach that requires increase in advocacy and partnerships between government, the private sectors and grassroots.
He assured that the continuous reviews of the existing policies and laws on gender based violence that accommodates the best practices and strategies will nip the scourge in the bud and reduce future occurrences .
To this end the, the House observed a minute silence in honour of Late Miss Oluwabamise Ayanwola while it mandated its committee on Police Affairs and National security and intelligence to ensure compliance.
