Ben Ezechime, Enugu
A Non-Governmental Organisation, (NGO), WomenAid Collective (WACOL), has lamented the high rate of human rights abuse against women in the country.
Professor Ngozi Ezeilo, SAN, Executive Director/Founder of WACOL, stated this while briefing newsmen on the activities of the organisation in 2024 and other sundry issues in Enugu.
Ezeilo decried that the Nigeria society had degenerated to the level that life does not mean anything to many Nigerians.
She also expressed dissatisfaction with the way the Nigeria Police Force has continued to carryout its duties in the wake of imminent collapse of social order.
“As an organisation that is involved in fighting this social ills, sometimes we get frustrated in the way the Nigeria Police handles most of these cases.
“You take a case to the police and they will ask you to provide money for everything as if they are not being funded at all,” she said.
Ezeilo disclosed that in 2024 the legal unit of the organisation handled a total of 823 cases of human rights abuse against women from January to December.
According to her, out of the more than 800 cases, physical, emotional abuse/assaults accounted for 321 while denial of inheritance and related matters were 101 cases among others.
Speaking on a current case of alleged gruesome murder of a four-year-old child, Miss Zana Ugwu in Nsukka, Enugu State, involving, one Chukwuemeka Nweke, Ezeilo called for justice.
She said: “I am calling on the Nigeria Police and the Nigerian Judiciary to ensure total justice for this poor child and her family.
“The family of this slain child has suffered untold hardships since their daughter was killed in cold blood and therefore, deserves nothing but justice.
Ezeilo also spoke further on a case of Miss Blessing Igwe, who was allegedly raped and impregnated while receiving treatment in the Psychiatric hospital Enugu, and was later declared missing.
She said that, the case was not only wicked but a testimony that Nigeria was losing its bearing on international human rights index.
“How can such a thing happen in a Federal Government institution, it is time for us as a people to search our conscience and find out what us wrong,” she said.
Ezeilo, who is a social crusader said WACOL was doing it’s best but limited funds had hampered much of their activities.
She called on government at all levels to live up to expectations by protecting the fundamental rights of citizens.
