Agboje Chuks
The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Vera-Gold Foundation, Mrs. Chika Osagiede, has sharply criticized the Federal Government, alleging that the high rate of crime in Nigeria was a direct consequence of governmental negligence in providing basic human support systems.
In a recent telephone chat with the press, Mrs. Osagiede emphasized that the most effective way to combat insecurity was through job creation and enabling a support system that sustains livelihoods.
”The Federal Government must do more to eliminate idleness,” she reiterated, adding the adage, “an idle mind is the devil’s workshop.”
The outspoken foundation boss maintained that creating employment was the best strategy against insecurity and other vices, stressing that people were less likely to engage in criminal activities when gainfully employed.
”When you wake and go to work, you may hardly have time to indulge in crime. I think the Government should create jobs to fight insecurity and other crime-related activities, including Internet fraud, often called ‘Yahoo Yahoo,'” she stated.
Mrs. Osagiede also highlighted the core mission of the Vera-Gold Foundation, which was registered in Nigeria, the United Kingdom, and Spain.
She added that the organization was dedicated to fighting the menace of rape and providing support for victims across the country.
Recounting her milestone, Mrs Chika noted that her foundation was prepared to follow up on any rape crime perpetrated against individuals, regardless of gender, emphasizing that male victims were often overlooked.
”The male could also be raped. When there is no consent, or consent was not genuine, then rape has taken place,” she clarified.
Mrs. Osagiede further alleged that many rape incidents were rituals or act “committed or sponsored by some influential men in the society.” She cited a challenging case in Benin, where the perpetrator was an influential figure, making it difficult to secure justice.
She also accused the police of being accomplices in obstructing justice, pointing to a case in Lagos where the victim was unable to pursue the matter because the police allegedly demanded a huge sum of money to arrest the suspect.
”This is what we are saying. The system makes it difficult to get justice. We have seen a lot of rape cases where the victims were requested to bring money, and when monies were not brought, the case was ignored,” she lamented.
Mrs. Osagiede urged the Federal Government to sign the anti rape Bill into law and ensure that perpetrators are given life sentences to deter people from committing the heinous act.
Citing a case in Jos, Mrs Chika disclosed how a twelve year girl was taken by a lawyer in disguise to offer her a ride because she knew him, and the lawyer raped her, stating the parents had not known until the girl started developing fever and was taken to the hospital, which it was confirmed that the girl was pregnant
She narrated that in Jos, the police refused to make arrest because, the parents of the girl could not afford the amount that the police requested
Lamenting on the the incident, Vera-Gold boss described rape cases as disturbing and “getting out of hand,” revealing that her foundation was currently following up a rape case involving a lawyer in Abuja.
”We have seen rape cases of father and daughter. We have also seen the rape of a seven-year-old girl by her own father. That is the height of it, and it is disturbing,” she added.
