The National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) has called on Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to rise and speak against ritual killings and sexual abuse in Nigeria.
The Association also demanded justice for victims of ritual killings and sexual abuse in country.
According to a statement signed by the Association’s National President, Ladi Bala, “the kidnap and eventual gruesome murder of five year old-Hanifa Abubakar by her teacher after collecting ransom of six million naira from her parent, is one of the most horrific, barbaric and inhuman evil acts of wickedness recorded in recent times.
“The killing of the innocent Nigerian child by the proprietor of her school, smirks of gross betrayal of trust which the little girl and her parent reposed in the institution and the proprietor.
“This is as NAWOJ notes the increase in cases of killings for money and ritual purposes has assumed a frightening dimension thus, making life unsafe for Nigerians.
“Killings, kidnappings, sexual and gender based violence are taking severe toll on women and girls, who are the soft targets of evil perpetrators.
“The case of Aisha Umar, an IDP, who was lured and raped by an Humanitarian provider that led her to committing suicide in Maiduguri, Borno State as she could not stand the trauma and the brutal murder of the son of a Gender activist, Madam Ene Ede in Abuja recently by yet to be identified murderers, to mention but a few, are all indicators that all is not well in our dear country.
“As mothers, we aver with pains that this is no longer the Nigeria we grew up to know where the care for the younger generation was the responsibility of all adults and the community as a whole.
“As mothers, we appeal to Nigerians to be more vigilant, security conscious as well as report suspicious characters to security agencies.
“NGOs and CSOs must speak out against these evil acts and demand justice for victims of ritual killings and sexual abuse in Nigeria”.