Warning: This editorial discusses scenes depicting rape and sexual assault. HBO’s Lovecraft Country has been a wild ride so far. In just four episodes, we’ve seen haunted houses, vampiric monsters, and mysterious cults, along with the real world horrors of Jim Crow laws and white supremacy. The series’ fifth episode — this past Sunday’s “Strange Case” — manages to top all of that with one of the most disturbing scenes in recent memory. In a twist on Robert Louis Stevenson’s novella The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Ruby (Wunmi Mosaku), a Black woman takes a potion and wakes up in a white body. At first, she’s shocked and horrified, but begins to see the value in this new “currency” of whiteness. The potion eventually wears off, causing Ruby to violently shed her new skin in bloo...
Experts on Friday said preventing sexual violence starts with what parents teach young boys on girl-child sexual rights. Speaking during a three-day capacity training for journalists on Women’s Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights in Ibadan, the experts said changing men’s perception and attitude towards girls, starts with parents. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the training was organised by IPAS, an international non-profit advocacy group, and was focused on improving and expanding women’s sexual and reproductive rights. An Obstetrician-Gynecologist, Dr Steve Lemadoro, said that parents had the responsibility to raise boys who would grow up to become men who respect and protect women’s sexual rights and dignity. Lemadoro said that it was time parents questioned themselves on how...
The Trade Union Congress (TUC), has urged the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, not to sweep under the carpet the rape case allegedly leveled against the Kogi State Commissioner for Water Resources, Hon. Abdumumini Danga. The Kogi State Chairman of the TUC, Comrade Ranti Ojo, made the call yesterday during a peaceful protest in Lokoja that was tagged “Say no to Rape and all Forms of Gender Based Violence.” Ojo lamented that the Nigerian Police under the leadership of Adamu has failed to tell the country the outcome of their investigation five months after the former Miss Kogi made the allegation, which drew public condemnation from far and near. He described rape as a grievous offence, which should be condemned in its entirety no matter how highly placed the culprit might be...
Actionaid Nigeria has called on the federal government to declare state of emergency on rape, following the alarming cases of rape across the country. Country Director of Actionaid Nigeria, Mrs Ene Obi made the call during a one-day Women’s summit on preventing violent extremism in Nasarawa state. Obi, who was represented by the Manager, Humanitarian and Resilience, David Habba, stated that Nasarawa state currently has the worst case of rape, where a three-month old baby was raped by a 27-year-old man. She explained that while women rarely take part in conflict, they are often the most affected, ranging from psychological, emotional, physical to mental loss which continues decades after the conflict has ended. The Actionaid country director expressed concern over the rising number of sexua...
The suspended Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Interim Management Committee, Joi Nunieh, has revealed that she once slapped the Minister of Niger Delta, Godswil Akpabio, for sexually harassing her. She made this known while fielding questions on Arise News on Monday but said what Akpabio attempted to do could not be regarded as ‘attempted rape’. Justifying why she slapped the minister, the former NDDC MD said Akpabio was always scheduling a meeting with her either at his guest house in Apo or in the hotel. She said when he (Akpabio) could not succeed to sleep with her, the Minister then came up with accusation of insubordination to suspend her from office. Ms Nunieh says: “When Akpabio saw that I cannot bring out the money, he now tried Plan B, a case of i...
The Nigeria Female Youth Organisation (NFYO), a non-governmental organisation, has urged appropriate authorities to make sex and reproductive health education compulsory in post primary schools. Mimi Peters, President, NFYO, made the call on Saturday while addressing newsmen in Abuja during a joint briefing with Michelle Youth Initiative (MYI). Peters said the roles of guardians and councilors in schools should be reintroduced and strengthened with emphasis on moral education. She also urged the ministry of education to create a monitoring team to evaluate the effort of heads of post primary schools in promoting good moral in educational institutions. She, however, commended the National Assembly for passing the bill on sexual harassment in tertiary institutions as it would redress such is...
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command said it has arrested a pastor and 11 others for various cases of rape and defilement of minors. Speaking on Wednesday in Uyo during a press conference, the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, said the 33-year-old pastor, Inimfon Inyang, severally raped a 15-year-old girl at his deliverance centre. The pastor, who allegedly lives with eight other girls aged 13 to 16 years, was said to have also attempted to rape a 21-year-old girl. Emmanuel Otu, a 30 years old indigene of Uko Nteghe, Mbo local government area was said to have raped a 28-year-old lady at gunpoint, and robbed her of two phones valued at N42,000 and N9,000 and the sum of N32,000 cash. Another suspect, Ime Sunday, from Ekpene Obo, Esit Eket local government area was said to ...
The Zamfara State government has described its peace and reconciliation initiative as the best way to address armed banditry in the state. This was contained in a statement issued by Mr Zailani Bappa, Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Enlightenment, Media and Communications, in Gusau on Sunday. He dismissed the allegation that the state government was giving more attention to bandits as a result of the peace process, saying this was unfounded and mere fabrications by mischief-makers. According to him, a lot has been achieved by security operatives in the fight against unrepentant bandits, who have continued to terrorise innocent citizens in the state and other parts of the north-western states. Bappa said, “The position of the Gov. Bello Matawalle-led administration is very clear, ...
DSS quizzes Don Jazzy, Tiwa Savage over ‘political statement’
Music producer Don Jazzy and singer Tiwa Savage have been cautioned against making social media comments against the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, after an invitation by the Department of State Security, DSS. Tiwa Savage earned the invitation after she ran a campaign, ‘WeAreTired’, in reaction to a rise in cases of rape in the country. She also made social media posts to draw the attention of the Buhari administration to the issue. The singer and Don Jazzy were invited to the Lagos office of the DSS where they were warned to be mindful of the kind of posts they make on social media. Since the meeting with the DSS at their Shangisha office two weeks ago, Tiwa Savage has not continued with the campaign against rape, while Don Jazzy has toned down his activities on Twitter. Sh...