Oyo State chapter of the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria, FOMWAN, has condemned the rape and murder of eighteen year old Barakat Bello.
OYOINSIGHT.COM had reported how Barakat, an ND1 student of the Department of Science Laboratory Technology SLT, Federal College of Animal Health and Production, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, was gang-raped and murdered by unknown assailants at her residence in Ibadan.
FOMWAN Amirah, Alhaja B.B Oloso, in a statement signed by the media officer of the association, Alhaja Oyetunji Oyekunle, described the rising cases of rape and murder of women in Nigeria were worrisome, alarming and disturbing.
Alhaja Oloso, who noted that the rape and murder of Barakat, a member of the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria, Akinyele Area Council, few days ago was one too many as it came at a time Nigerians were still battling with the gruesome rape and killing of Uwavera Omozuwa, a 22-year-old Microbiology student of University of Benin inside one Redeemed Christian Church of God Ikpoba Hill, Edo state by unknown assailants.
The Amirah in the statement appealed to all well-meaning individuals and concerned authorities to rise in defence of girl child and in defence of women who are daily being oppressed, raped ,attacked and murdered by demonic and sex-maniac men and ensure perpetrators are brought to justice to serve as deterrent to others but to stem the tide of the resultant effects of such actions on the society in the long run.
Alhaja Oloso called on human rights groups, professional bodies and faith-based organizations including Islamic bodies like NSCIA, NACOMYO, MSSN, MUSWEN among others to increase their awareness on the negative effects of violence against women as condemned strongly in the Holy Quran and other scriptures.
The Association also called for thorough investigation and arrest of the perpetrators of all recent and backlog cases of rape and other violent acts against girls and women in Oyo State and indeed Nigeria.
“Barakat Bello, Uwavera Omozuwa, Tina and others must not die in vain. We must all speak in one voice to condemn all forms of evils against women. It could be anyone we know. The attackers may be lurking somewhere in our neighborhood. We demand that the security operatives do whatever it takes to apprehend the rapists and murderers in our midst. Let us keep on sharing and promoting the hashtag #JusticeforBarakat# #Justiceforothers# until the perpetrators of the heinous and diabolical act are brought to book,” the Amirah stressed.
While praying to Allah to grant the parents of Barakat, family , friends and others the fortitude to bear her loss, FOMWAN Amirah also beseeched Him to rest Barakat’s soul and admit her to Al-Jannah Firdaous.
