The Umuada Igbo, the cultural umbrella of all Igbo speaking women in the world, has vowed to take up the prosecution of rape cases in Igboland.
The women, who met at Eke Umunnachi in Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State and Central School Ebenebe in Awka North Council Area on Saturday to sensitise women on their rights, said they had already taken up four of such cases in Anambra and Enugu states.
They said their resolve to intervene was informed by the rising incidence of rape in Igboland, a adding that they could not sit idly and watch the development.
The President of the group, Dr. Kate Ezeofor, described rape as the worst form of female abuse and decried its increase in the society.
She also decried the situation where victims were reluctant to report to the police because they were afraid of being attacked by the suspects in future and the stigma associated with rape.
Others who spoke during the event included the Deputy National Legal Adviser, Mrs. Nkem Anyaogu, and Chief Esther Onwubunka, among others.
One of the women Mrs. Philomena Nnamani said, “The stigma is too much for women to bear, any rape case should be reported to Umuada Igbo and we will take it up, we are not ending it in the South-East but any state where victims abound.”
The women at the programme commended the group for taking the initiative to sensitise women and called on all men who engaged in female abuse and rape to desist from it or face the wrath of the women and the land.
