(Ibadan)
The Criterion, an association of Muslim women in business and the professions, has called on the Oyo State government to ensure security operatives bring to book perpetrators of rape and murder of two women in Akinyele Local Government, Ibadan.
The association made the call while its officials were on a condolence visit to the families of Barakat Bello at Oloro and Azeezat Shomuyiwa, bother victims of henious crime at Ijefun communities in Akinyele Local Government.
Addressing the families of the victims, the Amirah of The criterion, Oyo District, Alhaja Falilat Olatunji said the rate at which women were being murdered was worrisome, stressing that must government to ensure perpetrators were brought to book.
“I don’t know how individuals staying in a populated environment could be murdered in broad day light without being arrested. The government must ensure that the perpetrators are fished out.
” They should be able to trace the evil ones behind the cases,” Olatunji said.
Contributing, the National Vice- President of the Association, Alhaja Medinat Akanni, also decried rape cases which she noted had become rampant and urged government and security agencies in the state to collaborate to ensure that justice prevails.
“In all ramifications, we say no to rape, there must be an end to it. We encourage our security outfits and other stakeholders to beef up security and safe people’s lives. Enough is enough,”she said.
Another member of the association, Alhaja Sukura Jimoh,who urged the families of the victims to take the incidents as acts of God, prayed Allah to count the deceased as inmates of Aljannah Firdaos.
In their separate remarks, the mother of late Barakat, Mrs Kafayat Bello and mother in law of late Azeezat, Mrs Oluwatoyin Imam expressed displeasure over the sudden demise of their daughters and called for justice to serve as deterrent to others.
“It was around 5:30 p.m that the incident happened. I want government to bring out those behind the dastardly act as I can’t see my promising daughter again.”
“This has to end, this is our turn today. Government must do something about this ungodly act to prevent future recurrence.”Imam said.
Apart from the relatives that were consoling the parents, other Muslim faithful, including members of Muslim Students’ Society Of Nigeria, MSSN, the organisation that the victim belonged were also around to pay tributes as well as Security personnel.
Meanwhile, The Achiever Ambassadors (TAA), a religious organisation geared toward the retraction of swaying youths to the path of Allah, has also demanded justice for Barakat.
The TAA National Coordinator, Nurudeen Akinloye, condemned the sexual assault meted out on Barakat.
Akinloye, who condemned the abuse and the subsequent machetting of her body, after the “inhumane act” prayed that Allah eased the investigation, granted her family the fortitude to bear the loss and exposed all the perpetrators of similar acts.
He said: “As an Islamic organisation in the know of the prestige and honour gifted to the woman by Islam, we hereby condemn the inhumane act and demand that the perpetrators of such act are brought to book.
“There is no gainsaying that Islam regards women as pearls and elevates them. This fact is a mantra that we behold as an organisation and as thus, we beg all parties involved in the investigation: the Nigerian Police Force among others to ensure justice.
“In furtherance, we hereby request that, should the perpetrators be caught, the Hadd (punishment) stipulated by Islam should be carried out on the perpetrators.
“According to reports, she was macheted after rape, and, this is classified as ‘Mihrab’ in the Shariah and the punishment is ‘crucifixion, or killing, or cutting of the perpetrator’s limbs from the opposite sides or exiled from the land’ as enshrined in Suratul Ma’idah, Q 5 vs 33.
“May Allah protect our womenfolk and make us steadfast upon goodness.”
Duaglobalnews, an online publication, reports that Barakat Bello (18), was allegedly raped and killed at her parent’s home while Azeezat Shomuyiwa, a 29 year old pregnant woman, was also said to have been murdered at her residence last week.
