Monarch raises alarm over incessant rape of women

The paramount ruler of Agwada community in Nasarawa State, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq, on Tuesday urged the police to protect women in the area from incessant rape while working on their farms.

Sadiq, who is the Osu Agwada , made the appeal in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at his palace in Agwada, Kokona Local Government Area of the state.

He noted that the area had suffered wanton attack by armed robbers, who not only kill and dispossessed people of their property, but also raped women at will.

The monarch recalled that the bandits had this year also killed three vigilante members of Kofar-Gwari village and kidnapped of a resident.

He described the situation as "embarrassing, unfortunate and uncalled for,'' adding that security agencies must provide 24-hour patrol and surveillance in the area, to protect the people.

"We appeal to the police to ensure the protection of lives and property of citizens in the area.

"The incessant armed robbery attack in this development area is of serious concern to the residents, because the activities of the robbers has affected our lives negatively.

"Apart from stealing people’s properties, farm produce, harassment and killing of people, at times they even go to farms raping women working on the farms in front of their family members.

"This is a threat not only to the health of the women in my domain but a threat to the health of the entire community.

"Their activities have created fear among the people especially the women and it will affect the level of agricultural production.

"I want to appeal to security agents to beef up security in my area so that my people can go about their normal activities without having the fear of being attacked.

"Beefing up security in the area will also help in curtailing the activities of the armed robbers and in checking the influx of criminal elements,” he said.

The Osu Agwada called on the residents to be security conscious and report suspicious persons to appropriate authority for necessary action.

He enjoined Nigerians to live in peace and tolerate one another irrespective of ethnic, religious and political differences.