The Kogi State chapter of the Trade Union Congress has called on the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, not to sweep under the carpet the rape allegations against the state Commissioner for Water Resources, Abdumumini Danga.

The Kogi State Chairman, TUC, Ranti Ojo, made the call on Thursday during a peaceful protest in Lokoja tagged: ‘Bay no to rape and all forms of gender-based violence’

Five months after the former Miss Kogi, Elizabeth Oyeniyi, made the allegations, which attracted public condemnation, Ojo lamented that the police had failed to tell the nation the outcome of their investigation.

He described rape as a grievous offence that should be condemned in it entirety no matter how highly placed the culprit could be.

The union leader said if the commissioner was found guilty of the alleged offence, he must be punished in accordance with the law.

Ojo stated, “We are here to lend our voices against rape in Kogi State and Nigeria in general. Collectively, we must stop rape as it does not speak well of humanity and it is a sin against God.

“I’m calling on the government and institutions that are saddled with the responsibility to implement stiffer punishment against culprits involved in rape, no matter how highly placed.

“In Kogi State, it was alleged that the Commissioner for Water Resources, Abdumumini Danga, raped a lady. Up till this moment, we have been kept in the dark. Let me make this passionate appeal to the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu.

“This case must not be swept under the carpet or water. The IG must investigate this case and come out to tell Nigerians what is the outcome. If the commissioner is found wanting, he must face the full wrath of the law.”

The Executive Director, Conscience for Human Right and Conflict Resolution, Idris Miliki, said, “Rape and assault perpetrated by anybody, man or woman, is a criminal offence under Nigerian laws and should not be accepted.”

Earlier, the Chairperson, Women Commission of the Trade Union Congress, Kogi State chapter, Mrs Margaret Adeika, appealed to the Federal Government to enact a law that would put rapists in jail for 30 years.

According to her, the high rate of rape cases in the country is alarming, stressing that underage girls and ladies are not safe in society.

Similarly, the Imo State Women chapter of the TUC, on Thursday, staged a peaceful demonstration in Owerri against rape and other violence acts against women.

The protest, which started from the Dan Anyiam Stadium to the Government House, witnessed over 100 women wearing their TUC uniform/T-shirts and carrying placards with different inscriptions.

Delivering the protest address, the TUC National Women Chairperson, Hafsat Shaibu, regretted that rape was common in the present day Nigerian society, adding that the crime was mostly perpetrated against women and girls.

Shaibu, whose address was read by the Chairperson, TUC Nigeria Women Commission, Imo State, Gregory Alan-B-Onyemachi, said that it was disheartening to see perpetrators of the evil act go scot free.

Responding on behalf of the state government, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr Nnamdi Anyaehie, thanked the women for the peaceful demonstration, adding that the present administration in the state was not in support of any crime relating to sexual molestation and rape.

He said that the state House of Assembly would soon enact a law abolishing any act of rape and imposing stiffer penalty on perpetrators.