FAME Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) in Nigeria, organised an outdoor exercise tagged “Hiking Against Rape”, to campaign against the rape pandemic which has tripled in number since inception of COVID-19 lockdown.
Hiking against rape, a ‘Play it Dream it initiative’ of the NGO, is aimed at using physical exercise to drive a cause, in a bid to create sustainable changes in the society.
Convener of the exercise, and founder of the organisation, Aderonke Ogunleye-Bello, said, “As at June 15, 2020, Nigeria has recorded a total number of 717 rape cases, according to a data provided by the Nigerian Police Force, hence, the campaign against rape.
“As we are unable to do much at this time than to campaign against rape, through means that will be safe and also accessible to everyone to hear our voices at this time, we decided to hike with few people under strict observation of the social distancing rules for outdoor events. Rape is a crime, it is traumatising and we called for stricter measures against rapists in Nigeria.”
Speaking at the event, Chairman of FCT Football Association, Adam Moukhtar, said that research has shown that 93% of these sex crimes were perpetrated by those within a victim’s circle.
“This often starts from the home and so we have to be vigilant and watchful in schools and offices,” he cautioned.
Tpl Mustapha Mubdiyu, a speaker at the exercise, stressed the need for parents to educate their children on sex education,
“There is a lot of work to be done by parents. They should always enlighten their children on sexual abuse, sexual harassment, sex organs and its functions, the rights and wrongs, associated with it.”
