CANDLELIGHT PROCESSION OF CSOs COALITION ON JUSTICE FOR UWAILA

CSOs Coalition on Justice for Uwa held a Candlelight Procession in Ohovbe Community, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area, Edo State, this is part of community engagement activities that has been proposed to demand for Justice of Uwa. The rape, assault and death of Uwaila has sparked reactions and condemnation from various groups, Government and private. 

Despite the heat of the sun, the coalition took a walk from the popular NNPC Depot fence to the her parents compound, through the community and terminated at the palace of the Enogie where a community response was inaugurated. Among those that were present were representative of various CSOs, CSO Network heads. FIDA, Police, NSCDC, Community members. 

Hon. Destiny Enabulele who is from the CSO community and the Chairman Ovia South West Local Government Council was also present. He said he was pained by the incidence hence he came out to join others in the procession, he total condemned the act of rape as there is no justifiable reason for such evil act. He enjoined the society to total shun it and condemn it.         

The Team Lead, Coalition of CSOs on  #JusticeforUwa, Comrade Ufuoma Akpobi also the State Coordinator Association Against Child Sexual and Gender Based Violence (AACSGBV) on behalf of the Coalition presented a press release. The full details of the press release is as follows:....................

On the Saturday 30^th May 2020 a relative of the late Miss Vera Uwaila Omozuwa contacted a member Smiles Africa International Youth Development Initiative(SAIDI)  of a Rape case, the critical conditions of the victim, the response of the police and some pictures of the victim were sent. 

The CSO contacted Association Against Child Sexual and Gender Based Violence (AACSGBV), Caring Heart Initiative, Conference of NGOs,  Brave Heart Initiative and other networks and organizations and kick started interventions immediately unfortunately, a few hours later we got the sad news of the death of the victim Miss VERA UWAILA OMOZUWA. 

On the 31^st May 2020 the CSOs Sent a delegation to meet with the family and later visited the crime scene. After which a call was made for  Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) within and outside Edo State to meet and be briefed on what transpired.

After the  meeting held on Monday 1^st June, 2020 by CSOs working on Sexual And Gender Based Violence, it was agreed that a CSOs Coalition on Justice for Uwa  be formed with the objective of seeking justice for Uwa through Community Engagement and to create a sustainable Community Based Response Team on rape, child defilement and other forms of gender based violence. 

We are aware that the rape culture in our environment has encouraged this felonious act that is perpetuated by some group of persons that are not supposed to be walking about in the street but rather be behind bars for an infinite number of years if not forever. 

As we condemned this dastardly act in strong terms which we term as sad, unfortunate, very painful and wicked we also boldly state that this  is a not only a crime against Vera Uwaila Omozuwa but to the womanhood, humanity and in entirety the human race.

Over time we have been saddened by the bureaucratic bottle necks that has aided the perversion of justice there by not making the perpetrators have the full wrath of the law that was originally positioned to serve as deterrent to others nursing the intention in their heart.

We are therefore using this medium to call on the general public, parents, guardians, care givers and everyone to always be bold to speak out without intimidation as the felonious act is not against them but against the State wherein they are witnesses. So no one should be afraid or intimidated to bear true account against someone who has no respect or regards for human dignity.

As we appreciate the effort of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) so far in handling the case of late Miss Vera Uwaila Omozuwa, we would not at this point fail to call on the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) who despite their good works would allow the few bad eggs in their midst create a bad impression of themselves to the general public. They should as a matter fact stop thwarting justice because they want to collect something for bail that has been termed free. We call on the IGP to beyond promissory comment take action and enforcement to ensure the procedure for handing rape cases are properly enshrined in the Nigerian Police Force and where there are gaps in capacity, effort should be urgently put in place to close them. We seriously frown at police officers who would not fail to seize every opportunity to extort victims, caregivers or anyone who choose to stand for them, this MUST STOP.  

Any Police Station or Division that lacks the required materials to work should be able to direct their request appropriately as discouragement to follow up on cases starts at the Police station.       

We are calling on the State Government through the various Ministries, Department and Agencies that has been saddled with the responsibilities to handle rape and other related matters to wake up to their responsibilities with particular emphasis on the Ministry of Social Development and Gender affairs and Ministry of Justice step up their games in this regard.  

We call on community members to come out with useful information that will aid the investigation and to work with the community response team in changing the rape culture in our communities as well as reporting cases of rape and child defilement as soon as it occurs.

We are using this medium to call on the general public to support with useful information that will assist the police in the investigation.

The Coalition of CSOs shall collaborate with all relevant security agents, Community leaders, and Religious leaders such as Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pentecostal fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Leaders of Islamic body, Media houses, NGO/CSOs and other stakeholders to demand justice for the late Uwa and ensure that rape culture in our society is changed.

Today, the 10th of June, 2020, we are inaugurating the Ohovbe Community Response Team against Rape, Child Defilement and other Gender Based Violence in the community. 

We want to inform all that we are going to inaugurate this Community Response Team in as many communities as cooperation with the people and resources would allow us. 

We are saying Enough is Enough for this menace as we use Uwa’s case as a call for all other pending cases to be given speedy action. 

We want to use this medium to once again send our condolences to her immediate family, the University of Benin Community and the Redeem Christian Church of God on this unfortunate death. We pray God Almighty to grant you the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.

We want to again pledge to the family of our unending support and monitoring of investigations until Late Uwa gets Justice.

May her soul rest in perfect peace.

Now that the Ohovbe response team has been inaugurated, which community is next as the rape culture must be totally eradicated from our society. 

#JusticeforUwailaOmozuwa 

#JusticeforUwa 

#StopAllFormofViolence 

#SayNoToRape