A PEACEFUL VIGIL PROTESTING THE RAPE, KILLING OF CORPS MEMBER GRACE USHANG AND VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN NIGERIA.
Friday, December 4, 2009 is a day to remember by the people of Lagos state, Nigeria as different groups under a coalition led by the Nigerian Feminist Forum gathered at the premises of Agidingbi Senior Grammar School off Lateef Jakande Road, Ikeja to participate in a vigil and peaceful walk to the Secretariat of the Lagos State government. The aim of the program was to protest against the rape and gruesome murder of Miss Grace Adie Ushang, a native of Cross River State, Nigeria.
She was born 27th October, 1984, before her murder, performing the compulsory one year national service at El-Kanemi College of Business Administration in Maiduguri, Borno State.
A similar walk was organised simultaneously on the same day, in Abuja, Nigeria. The program in Lagos was attended by members of civil society including Project Alert, Baobab for Women’s Rights, JDPC-Ijebu-Ode, Market women, Nigerian Girls Guide, the Nigerian Police, Youth corpers, NANS – National Association of Nigerian Students, and the general public. Grace Ushang’s cousin Mr. Peter Anale was also present. Presentations were made by representatives of the different organizations, led by Ms Iheoma Obibi the Executive Director of Alliances for Africa representing the Secretariat of NFF and Aisha Oyebode CEO of Muritala Mohammed Foundation.
All the Speakers and protesters wore black t-shirt with Miss Grace Ushang’s face imprinted together with the slogan “SHE WAS RAPED AND I WILL NOT BE SILENT”. The participants walked and carried banners as they approached the Secretariat of the Lagos State government. The petition addressed to the Lagos State House of Assembly was submitted through the Minister of Women Affairs, Lagos State, Mrs Joke Orelope-Adefuleru. The petition demanded that the perpetrators of the brutal killing be arrested and tried. In addition, the Government should monitor all forms of violence against women in Nigeria, end discrimination against women, challenge social prejudices against women and seek public policy change by domesticating the CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women) bill into Law.
The petition further stated that the whole world mark the global observance of the 16 days of activism against gender violence from November 25 to December 10, the respective authorities should commence a full scale investigation on Grace Ushang’s death and pass the harmonised bill on violence against women presented to the Federal House of Representatives since April 2002.
Mrs Joke Orelope-Adefuleru, condemned the act by the perpetrators of the crime as inhuman and accepted the petition from Ms Iheoma Obibi. She also expressed the opinion that the house of assembly is sympathetic to Miss Grace Ushang and her family.
This is a call urging the Government to take measures to guarantee the safety and personal security of youth corps members and indeed all women and girls in Nigeria.
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