Women lawyers to probe rape cases at IDPs camps

Women lawyers, operating under the aegis, International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), have vowed to probe rape cases among women and children at Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps across the country.

 

They said they would work in collaboration with police and other security agents in order to bring identified culprits to book to serve as deterrent to other criminally minded people.

 

Its National President who also doubles as the African Regional Vice President of the association, Mrs. Laraba Shuaibu, in a press conference in Abuja, yesterday, said the women lawyers would provide obnoxious services in form of free legal services to the rape victims to enable them get deserved justice.

 

The press conference was anchored on the coming of the African Regional Congress of the federation scheduled to hold in Abuja between November 26 and 29.

Mrs. Shuaibu further condemned the action of the suspected rapist adding that it is unfair and unfortunate for the criminally minded people to take advantage of the vulnerable women at the camps.

 

She said: “It is disheartening that women and children are being raped in IDP camps. We are visiting IDP camps in Abuja to see the level of this serious crime. We have championed the campaign against rape. They are vulnerable and to be so abused it is so unfortunate.

 

“We are going on a fact-finding mission in the IDPs camps. When we get the fact in the Abuja IDPs camps, we will be able to work in collaboration with our members in the North-east and that will guide us in the next step to take.”

 

On the Regional Congress, scheduled to begin this weekend, she said women lawyers on the African continent were expected in Abuja to participate.

 

She added that eminent Nigerians, including the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Miriam Aluma Murktah, were also expected to attend.