By; MUSA KUTAMA, Calabar
The Network to Curb Sexual Abuse (NETCUSA) of girls and women in Cross River State has raised an alarm over the increase in cases of sexual abuse of young girls between the ages of eighteen and above.
Chairperson of the association Mrs. Ndodoye Bassey, expressed this in her opening remarks during the network’s bi-monthly meeting in calabar.
Mrs Bassey said that incensant rape in the past three weeks is increasing in the state, alleging that youth lure young girls through social media unknowing to them, they fall victims of the rapists.
“It was allegde girls were raped even at mechanic workshops, uncompleted buildings, classrooms,”she added.
She vowed that NETCUSA would not relent in its effort to seeing that cases of rape and abuse of minors is reduced in the society.
“Society cannot fold their arms, it is a duty to every Nigerian to report such cases to security operatives for disciplinary action,” she emphasized.
In her speech, Secretary of the network, Helen Kanu said that given the current incease of sexual abuse, NETCUSA has become very important, calling on members to synergize and collectively curb the menace.
Highlighting the network’s achievements, the secretary said that NETCUSA has trained 24 law enforcement officers and conducted research on the need to put more efforts to protecting girls and women against sexual abuse and other related offences.
The network further called for the review of the Child Rights Act 2001, to curb abuse of girls and women, promising to continue to give support to victims through counseling, speedy arrest of culprits, and ensuring the victims also receive humanitarian and medical attention.
