Press Release: Who Raped Vera Uwalla Omozuwa And Barakat Bello? — Oladoja Olushola

I condemn in the strongest terms the gruesome rape of Ms. Vera Uwalla Omozuwa on 27 May 2020 at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Edo Province 10, which led to her death on the 30th May 2020 and the raping and stabbing to death of Barakat Bello, a student of the Institute of Agriculture, Research and Training, Ibadan, Oyo State. Their untimely demise is a significant loss to their families and Nigerian students who are grieving at this time. It is totally inhumane for another human being to contemplate rape, or orchestrate and engage in any other form of evil against his/her fellow human to the point of losing their life. It is both shameful and appalling that we will lose two promising students who are journeying through their tertiary education process to build a future for themselves; one which could likely change the fortunes of our dear nation, Nigeria. The death of these ladies further calls into question the proactiveness of security provision in our dear country.

I, therefore, call upon the Nigeria Police Force, Edo and Oyo States Command and other relevant security services to investigate and nab the perpetrators of these dastardly acts. It is a fundamental right that all citizens feel safe; therefore, security provision for lives and properties becomes a requirement from state systems and institutions towards citizens. I also urge the Government of Edo and Oyo States to intervene and provide the required support and resources for the conduct of a comprehensive investigation into this disgusting act of rape and gruesome murder of Vera and Barakat. We demand justice for them. More broadly, I call on the Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu, and the Federal Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, under the leadership of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, to improve the security of citizens because of the rising level of insecurity in the country. Going forward, I urge the leadership of tertiary institutions across the country to improve the conditions of facilitates on campuses across our tertiary institutions to enable learning and studying. While Ms Barakat and Vera’s death may not have happened on campus, the poor state of facilities on our campuses of learning has also contributed to similar incidences in the past, especially when students have to seek alternative means and locations to study.

Finally, my heart goes out to the families of the deceased over the loss of their beloved daughters. These losses are also losses to the family of Nigerian students. It is my earnest prayer that God grants us all the fortitude to bear these irreplaceable losses.

Comrade Oladoja Olushola,
AKA Ladoja NANS,
NANS Presidential Candidate 2020