BY FELIX KASSIM
A Non-Governmental Organisation, Wanda Adu Foundation, has called on the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to put in place mechanisms in churches that will ensure an all-out-battle against child sexual assault and rape.
President and Founder of the Foundation, Wanda Ebe, expressed deep concern over the involvement of some bad eggs in clergy in the act.
She said laws on preventing and punishing sexual abuse need to be strengthened and called on the clergy to preach more on the evil of sexual assault and rape to their congregations in order to tame the ugly tide which has witnessed a surge in recent times.
Ebe, who stated this during a courtesy visit to CAN in Abuja on Wednesday, said religious leaders need to take legal action when there are cases of rape and handle them as criminal offences rather spiritual.
“Religious leaders need to encourage members to speak up and seek justice rather than cover the sin irrespective of the offender,” Wanda said, even as she expressed hope on the capacity of CAN to rein in individuals with such tendencies.
She cited a recent incident in Abuja where a 57years old pastor in one of the major Pentecostal churches in the country raped a three-year old girl and instead of the Church to ensure the Pastor was punished, was busy begging the Foundation to let go the case.
Receiving the Foundation on behalf of the CAN’s President, Secretary General of the Association, Barr. Daramola Bade, described sexual assault in the country as pathetic situation, saying CAN is always ready to give support in fighting the menace.
“It is sad to see how children are being uselessly and recklessly violated. What is in a six year-old-girl that you will sleep with her? What do you call affection? What do you call love and emotion towards opposite sex or same sex?
“One should be very supporting towards the course you are championing. Whether it is a pastor, policeman, or whoever (that is involved in sexual abuse), it is bad enough,” he said.
While saying CANwill always do all what is possible to fight against violence against women and children in whatsoever form, Barr. Daramola appealed to individuals to always dress decently in the house of God saying “the congregation has to be decent in their appearance.”
