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ACF condemns rampant rape cases
Hassana Yakubu
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), on Monday in Kaduna, condemned the rampant cases of rape, especially in the northern part of the country.
The condemnation was contained in a statement issued by Mr Emmanuel Yawe, the National Publicity Secretary of the forum.
Yawe described the rising cases of rape as “alarming.”
“Daily, we read with horror in the newspapers, social media or hear on the electronic media horrific cases of rape; sometimes of under- aged girls as young as two years,” he said.
According to him, these acts are ungodly to all religions being practised in the north; Islam, Christianity and African.
“ACF calls on parents, guardians, young girls, school managers, religious leaders to take note of this dangerous trend and protect these innocent girls from this abuse and barbarism.
” Sadly, sometimes these criminal acts are performed by those whom the girls look up to for protection, like fathers and other close family members,” he said.
He also called on law enforcement agencies to be more proactive in protecting girls and women.
“The judicial system must also review its processes and strengthen them to protect the girl-child.
“We regret to observe that as it is now, the girl-child in the northern part of Nigeria has become an endangered specie because of rampant cases of rape.
“Sometimes, the rapists go to the extent of killing their victims. This is a sad development that must stopped,” he said.
The Osun State Amotekun Corps has denied allegations of nepotism in its ongoing recruitment of 1,000 cadets, following claims by some dismissed recruits that they were removed in favor of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members.
Some affected candidates, seen outside the NYSC camp venue in Osogbo, alleged they were removed due to their affiliation with the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC). Speaking on behalf of the group, a dismissed cadet, Usman, claimed that they had been in camp since Sunday before being replaced by PDP members, some of whom, he alleged, were unfit for training.
However, Amotekun’s Board Chairman, retired Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Wale Abass, dismissed the allegations as baseless. He explained that those removed from the training camp either failed to meet the required standards or did not follow the proper recruitment process.
“The 1,000 cadets invited for training went through a rigorous selection process. They submitted applications online, underwent document verification, and passed physical fitness tests before being invited to camp,” Abass stated.
He further revealed that some unqualified individuals managed to gain access to the camp, while some selected candidates failed to meet the reporting deadline. Those with health issues were also disqualified.
Abass reaffirmed that the Amotekun Corps remains committed to fairness and impartiality in its recruitment process. He described the allegations as an attempt to create confusion and undermine the security outfit’s credibility.
The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Osun State has raised concerns over the alleged recruitment of members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) into the state’s Amotekun Corps, claiming it threatens the safety of opposition members.
In a statement issued on Friday, APM Chairman, Mr. Adewale Adebayo, criticized the recruitment process, alleging that non-PDP applicants were deliberately screened out. He warned that Amotekun, originally created to enhance security, was being turned into a political tool.
“We are disturbed by the protest by well-meaning Osun residents who applied but were deliberately excluded because they are not PDP members,” Adebayo stated.
He further alleged that over 1,000 PDP members had been recruited into the corps, describing it as an attempt to silence opposition voices. According to him, the recruitment exercise was merely a formality to cover up a pre-arranged selection process favoring ruling party members.
APM has called for the resignation of the Corps Commandant and Field Commandant of Amotekun, demanding an apology to the affected applicants and the people of the state. The party insisted that the security outfit must remain apolitical to maintain public trust.
Neither the Osun State Government nor the leadership of Amotekun has responded to the allegations as of the time of this report.
The immediate past Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Timothy Owoeye, has praised the leadership style of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, stating that his efforts will strengthen the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2026 governorship election and the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued on Friday, Owoeye emphasized that the APC is in a stronger position in Osun compared to 2022. He credited Oyetola’s contributions, including food distribution programs, medical outreaches, and federal government projects in the state, as pivotal to repositioning the party.
He also highlighted President Bola Tinubu’s developmental projects in Osun, such as the N12 billion Ilesa-Eti-Oni road, the newly established Federal University of Agriculture and Development Studies in Iragbiji, and the Alternative High School for Girls in Osogbo, as factors boosting APC’s appeal among residents.
Owoeye further lauded Oyetola’s performance in the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, noting that his leadership had earned the ministry top rankings in the Ease of Doing Business assessment by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC).
Meanwhile, the former Speaker criticized Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration for what he described as political blackmail. He dismissed allegations against Oyetola regarding the alleged misappropriation of a $20 million World Bank health grant, calling the accusations baseless.
Owoeye accused the state government of jeopardizing future grants and donor-funded projects through premature accusations. He also recalled discrepancies in the state’s debt figures presented by Governor Adeleke and the Debt Management Office, questioning the credibility of the administration’s claims.
He urged the current government to prioritize governance over political distractions, stating that Osun State deserves better leadership.
Osun Amotekun recruits accuse Adeleke’s govt of nepotism
Opposition no longer safe with recruitment of Osun PDP members into Amotekun – APM
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