Gov. Godwin Obaseki
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has ordered for an investigation into the murder of a 100-level student of the Department of Microbiology, University of Benin (UNIBEN), Miss Vera Uwaila Omozuwa.
Governor Obaseki who disclosed this in a tweet on Sunday vowed to ensure that the suspects are found and made to face the full wrath of the law.
The 22-year-old student was reportedly raped in a church where she went to read at the Ikpoba Hill area of Benin City, the Edo State Capital.
The men were reported to have struck her in the head with a fire extinguisher after raping her and left her for dead. She was rushed to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital where she later died.
“I have ordered the Nigeria Police Force (@PoliceNG) to thoroughly investigate the circumstances that led to the death of Miss Vera Uwaila Omozuwa, a 100-level student of the University of Benin (UNIBEN).
“The @PoliceNG has been mandated to identify, arrest and prosecute anyone found culpable in her death. The Violence Against Persons (VAP) Law is in effect in our state.
“Using this law, we would ensure to investigate what exactly transpired and deal decisively with the those found complicit in the dastardly act, whoever they might be. #JusticeForUwa,” Obaseki’s tweet read.
The news of Uwa’s death had earlier sparked outrage on social media with many demanding for justice using the hashtag #JusticeForUwa.
Meanwhile Amnesty International has called on the Nigerian authorities to discard discriminatory laws that condone rape or prevent its successful prosecution.
In a statement by AI on Sunday on the rape of Vera Uwaila Omozuwa, the organisation noted that rising cases of rape across Nigeria was a result of the failure of law enforcement to ensure that rapists face justice.
“Amnesty International condemns the rape and brutal murder of Vera Uwaila Omozuwa; a 22-year-old 100-level student of the University of Benin, Edo State who was raped and killed inside a Redeemed Christian Church of God in Benin city”.
“We are deeply concerned that perpetrators of rape in Nigeria invariably escape punishment. While the nation is still coming to terms with this gross violation, in Jigawa state 11 men were arrested for raping a 12-year old girl at Limawa in Dutse, the state capital. Although rape is a crime in Nigeria government’s response to it continues to be, woefully inadequate”.
