Ebonyi NSCDC Threatens To Shoot And Rape Unarmed Protesters For Demanding Justice For A 12-year-old Rape Victim.

And after joining other organizations in a roadwork around Abakaliki Metropolis to raise awareness against Human Trafficking, HRCRC joined the GBV Taskforce and collaborating organizations to stage a peaceful protest at the Ebonyi State Command Headquarters of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC to press home the following demands:

An alleged Defilement of a 12year old girl by one popular Lawyer in the state cannot and should not be swept under the carpet like it seems the NSCDC is doing.

For almost a month since the report and arrest of the alleged perpetrator, he is yet to be arraigned.

His whereabouts are unknown

There are indications that the NSCDC is either leading or participating in an attempt to settle the matter with exchange of monies without consideration for the survivor.

All attempts to get the attention of the NSCDC command to act in accordance with the law have failed.

having lost faith in the ability of the NSCDC to diligently and without bias prosecute the case in point, we peacefully demand that the matter be transferred to the Nigeria Police.

The protest was peaceful as the unarmed protesters conducted themselves in a lawful manner.

However, it was shocking to note an officer of the NSCDC cocked his gun and pointed the nozzle directly at the innocent protesters to scare them away..

The worst scenario occurred when one of the officers of NSCDC was alleged to have said that the female protesters will be raped just as the girl they were protesting for, was raped “

In all, the entire experience shows that there is a serious need for GBV prevention awareness training for officers of the Ebonyi State NSCDC office as some of the offices show grave ignorance of human rights and gender-sensitive awareness.

Also at the present, it would be of importance to request the Office of Ebonyi State NSCDC to transfer all cases of GBV to the police and concentrate on their core mandate which is the protection of public properties and infrastructure.

We thank the National Human Rights Commission for monitoring and noting the infringements.

#NSCDC