Group visits Anambra Command, sues for stiffer penalties against rape perpetrators

&NewLine;<p><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;openlife&period;ng">Anambra <&sol;a>State Police Command&comma; on Tuesday&comma; August 11&comma; received <a href&equals;"http&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;thisdaylive&period;ng">Okpotokpo Adaigbo Woldwide Association in <strong>Anambra <&sol;strong>State<&sol;a>&comma; on a visit to the State Commissioner of Police&comma; John Abang at the Command’s headquarters&comma; Akwa&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>The visit&comma; according to a statement signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer&comma; Superintendent Haruna Mohammed&comma; was to register their displeasure against the rising cases of rape against women in the State&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>They were said to be on a peaceful rally against rape and other sexual violence in the State&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>According to the statement&comma; &OpenCurlyDoubleQuote; As part of their activities to mark a one day Campaign Against Rape and other Sexual violence in <strong>Anambra <&sol;strong>State&comma; the Okpotokpo Adaigbo Worldwide led by it&&num;8217&semi;s Coordinator&comma; Mrs Ogochukwu Okparasili&comma;   today&comma; paid a visit to the Commissioner of Police Anambra State Command CP John B&period;Abang&period;”<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>The statement stressed further on the purpose of the rally&comma; which according to the women group&nbsp&semi; is to &&num;8220&semi;Express concern over increasing cases of rape and other sexual violence against women&&num;8221&semi;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>The association also stated that the victims families&comma; friends and indeed the entire society suffers permanent social and psychological effects throughout their lives&period; They also advocated stiffer penalties against &nbsp&semi;perpetrators&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>Responding&comma; the State Commissioner who was represented by the Command’s Public Relations Officer&comma;  welcomed the group to the State Command headquarters and assured them of <strong>Police<&sol;strong>  readiness to support the association towards realising their goal of making Anambra a rape free State&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>The Abang further stated that the Command under his watch will continue to partner with the association and other stakeholders to enhance safety and security in the State&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>It would be recalled that only recently&comma; the Inspector-General of <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;openlife&period;ng">Police<&sol;a>&comma; Mohammed Adamu&comma; while on a routine visit to the Presidential Villa disclosed that  the Nigeria Police Force recorded 717 rape cases between January and May&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>Adamu said 799 suspects have so far been arrested while 631 cases have been conclusively investigated and charged to court&period; He said 52 cases are still being investigated&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;