Late Elizabeth Ochanya: FG Plans Sex Offenders Register
The Federal Government says plans are underway to open a sex offenders’ register, noting that it is pained by the death of Ochanya Ogbaje, a pupil of Federal Government Girls’ College, Gboko, Benue State, who was raped to death in October 2018.
The Director-General of the National Centre for Women Development, Mrs. Mary Ekpere-Eta, stated this in Abuja on Friday while leading the alumni of the FGGC, Gboko, to meet with the wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, at the State House.
The DG said Ogbaje’s death was shocking and untimely, adding that the sex offenders’ register would be domesticated in all the ministries, departments and agencies of the government to name and shame perpetrators of sexual abuses.
The 13-year-old schoolgirl was allegedly raped to death in the Gboko area of Benue State by one Andrew Ogbuja, a lecturer at the Benue State Polytechnic, and his son, Victor, a final-year university student.
The girl reportedly died from health complications arising from the sexual abuses.
Ekpere-Eta said, “Plans are underway to introduce a sex offenders’ register to be collated by the NCWD. Our centre is partnering with relevant stakeholders and concerned groups in working out the practical and operational modalities.
“This exercise will be domesticated by the MDAs at both the federal and state levels to foster synergy and assist in ensuring that such sex offenders are denied certain privileges and employment into vulnerable persons-dominated workplaces.”
The Head of the alumni, Dr. Ngozi Azodoh, said they planned a posthumous solidarity programme for Ogbaje, which is to enlighten and educate the girl-child and women to speak up against sexual abusers.
The First Lady, in her brief remarks, said she would support initiatives to combat sexual crimes, noting that her office ran a Non-Governmental Organisation that provides a shelter for violated victims.
Olaleye Aluko|Punch
