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By Akpan David, Calabar
Following resurgence of sexual assaults of minors in parts of Cross River State, Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) as well as child rights activists have again risen in unison to condemn what they described as heinous crime.
They have expressed anger and called for detergent actions against perpetrators.
They spoke separately in Calabar during interviews over the recent alleged violation of a 12 year old girl by one Septuagenarian, Bassey Inyang, a driver, which has led to damage of the victim’s private part and profuse bleeding.
The suspect is reported to have violated many other minors in the Mbukpa neighborhood.
The police have since nabbed the suspect. Commenting, Nelson Okpabi, zone six PRO condemned the act.
In her remarks, president of FIDA, Anne Alorye Awah said such suspect be taken out of circulation.
“If he is a serial rapist, then he has no business being let loose and allowed to roam the streets free. The laws are there to put him where he belongs to spend the rest of his miserable life.
“Our children have the right to be safe and protected. Parents or guardians of such survivors should speak up and seek for justice.”
Also reacting vehemently, president of Mother Glory Ntuk Foundation, and secretary of Child Protection Network, Mrs Glory Mike Ntuk said it is most probable that the man is sick mentally.
“It’s very unfortunate that things like cases of child abuse is taking a toll on our society. For a 70 year old man to serially abuse our children sexually means that our society is morally bankrupt and is at its verge of spiritual judgement.
“It means our society is bereft of moral barometers and reliable judges. It is the height of immortality and very worrisome.
“On the other hand, that man is sick because, by the physiology of a 70 year old man, normally his libido should have ebbed by now. So if he goes for the minor girls, his supposed grand children, who he is expected to protect and wisely counsel, then he is either mentally deranged or he is trying to keep his male ego alive, which means he was a serious womanizer in his active years or at worst, he is using those children for occultic practices. Either of these are unpardonable and he should be made to face the law.”
On his part, Barrister James Ibor, a Child Rights Activist and Secretary of Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring, said the action is highly reprehensible.
“We encourage the police to conclude investigation, so that the man can face full weight of the law. We’ll not relent on this particular case”, he said.
