RAPE: Teach your children sex education, CAN tells parents

The Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Oyo State Chapter, Rtd. Col. Joshua Akinyemiju has urged parents to teach their children sex education and encourage their female ones to dress modestly.

Akinyemiju gave the advice in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Ibadan, while reacting to the rampant cases of rape in the society.

While stressing on the need for parents to stay together as much as possible while monitoring the movements of their children, he urged law enforcement agents to be more proactive and review the laws concerning rape with a view to making them more stringent.

The Apostle called on religious leaders to step up preachings against this menace to their congregation while churches and mosques should begin to arrange security awareness lectures for their congregation.

“Victims should no longer be shy or afraid to report such incidents; the dangerous effect now is that victims who are out right after the act are no longer alive to report the incident.

“This is why all the stakeholders should handle the issue with more seriousness, even more than COVID-19,” he said.

Also speaking, the Pastor of Deliverance Service Solution Centre, Samonda, Ibadan, Mrs Oluronke Esan said the increased rape incidences was a very sad development and direct fallout of the general decadence in the society’s moral and standard of living.

Esan remarked that it could be a fallout of childhood abuse or neglect in one form or the other, emotional instability/insecurity, selfishness, lack of home training, bad association, greed and possibly carnal mindedness of the rapist.

She said that the effects of rape on victims could be life-altering, if she was not understood, believed or able to share the experience with anyone.

“A life without Jesus might seem ‘cool’, the ‘in’ thing but it leads to ultimate destruction; for victims, their caregivers, Jesus said come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.

“Recriminations and self-pity will not help the issue at all, allow the Holy Spirit to comfort you and take each day at a time.

“Remember that you are fearfully and wonderfully made in God’s image, no matter what experience you have gone through, know that God’s word for your life will come true, only believe,” she said.