By Jwan Panshak Dampak

Reports reaching ViewPointNigeria’s news desk indicates that a non-Governmental Organisation based in Jos called “Peace Advancement Action Against Violence and Rape Foundation (PAAAVARF) is making steady strides at ending domestic violence, rape and other vices in Jos and environs.

The NGO which continually runs initiatives and programmes to heighten awareness and sensitize the general public about the ills and menace of rape and violence, launched a campaign on 17^th August 2020 geared towards Utan, Apata, Mai Adiko and Zarmaganda communities.

A phase of the campaign which was ran today, was tagged “Stop rape, expose rapists and save our community”. The campaign was kick-started at Tudun Wada ward, with a visit to the ward head.

Speaking to ViewPointNigeria reporter about the initiative, the founder of the NGO Vivien Ebere Abara (LKSJI) said incidences of rape during lock down increased exponentially to 717. She said such high statistics point to the fact that the girl child was in very significant danger and in need of protection. She averred that the purpose of the campaign was to sensitize the public on how to stop the defilement of minors, report rapists to authorities, end the stigmatization of rape victims and safeguard young girls from preying paedophiles.

In addition, Vivien Ebere said it is important to expose the modus operandi of paedophiles –saying their typical tactics when seeking to defile minors was to buy sweets or biscuit to lure unsuspecting children to secluded locations or pretend that the want the minors to run errands for them.

In closing, Vivien said, “rapists are not aliens, they are our neighbours, our brothers, elders etc. and so if we wish to protect our communities, then we must be willing to report these individuals to face the full wrath of the law”. The rapist should be made to face the music, not the victim who is often times stigmatized and disgraced.

This report is by Jwan Panshak Dambak (a reporter with ViewPointNigeria® and he reports from Jos, Plateau State)

count | 113

Incidence of rape increased massively during lockdown to 717 – Jos based NGO