Survivor advises gender-based violence victims to seek help
By Bridget Ikyado
Queen Elizabeth Bumkeng, an author an a victim of rape, has advised other victims of rape and gender-based violence, to seek help by reporting abuse to relevant authorities.
Bumkeng made the call at the launch of her book titled “Healing from Within, Reclaiming Life After Sexual and Gender – Based Violence” in Abuja.
She said refusal to report abuses and seek appropriate help, could lead to depression and further complications in victims.
Narrating her experience, she said she was abused, traumatised, scared, had nightmares and was afraid that the culprit would abuse other girls.
She however said she started healing after she reported the person who abused her.
Bumkeng called on all stakeholders to join in the fight against gender-based violence in the society.
“This is a clarion call for everybody, the cvil societies, the community leaders, the village chiefs, the government, the lawmakers, everyone in office in whatever capacity that you are, this is a sole responsibility for you and I as a person, to fight against sexual and gender based violence.
“This is not a fight for me alone; as Elizabeth, I have started my fight, I have written a book and this book covers ways to help survivors.
“The next step for every one of us here is to spread the news and to help join the fight. This means if you hear someone doing this, you have the right to stop any one.
“Do not say it does not concern me. It’s concerns each and every one of us,” she said.
She said the book addresses how to get healing, the relevant government agencies and their roles, the law and stipulated punishment for offenders.
“It also has information about bodies that offer help and some mental health care.
“So this book is informative and I recommend it for every child, every family, every community, every government agencies.
“I recommend it to everyone because you need to know about the do’s and don’ts about the laws, the persecution and everything else,” she said.
The chief launcher of the book, Mr Nuhu Kwajafa, said the most effective way to help victims was by punishing the offenders.
He said that the first step was to make the Nigerian Police Force see the need to take sexual harassment very serious.
According to him, the police takes arm rubbery more seriously than rape whereas in the western world a first time rubber without criminal record can be pardoned, but not the same for a rapist.
“I have dealt with so many cases of rape where the police will tell you openly that your family should go and settle the matter at home.
“So the only way government can support the victim is, government needs to put things in place that will tackle those who are involved in it because there’s no way somebody can heal when the person who committed the crime is walking free.
“Everyone has to support and play their role. I mean, everyone has a responsibility because I keep saying that everybody has a role to play.
“The media needs to shout it out the media needs to call the authorities out, the media needs to bring it out that 80 per cent of sexual harassment cases are being killed by the police,” he said. (NAN)
