BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and a human rights activist, Citizen Lola Wey have admonished school children, especially females, to always summon courage and speak out when they are being sexually abused or facing Gender Based Violence both at their homes, schools or elsewhere.
In a bid to fight both external and internal forces that threaten the peaceful atmosphere in schools across the country; some school children in Osun State were trained on self defence skills by the Special Female Squad of the corps.
The Zonal Commander in charge of Zone J, Assistant Commandant General, Fasiu Adeyinka, who was represented by Deputy Commandant of Corps, Sanusi Adewunmi Saliu at the first anniversary of Special Female Squad of NSCDC, Osun State Command, Osogbo, charged victims of rape, sexual abuses and GBV to expose their abusers by reporting them to their parents, guardians and to the corps.
In a statement issued by ASCII Adeleke Kehinde on Sunday, the Public Relations Officer of the NSCDC, Osun State Command, Adeyinka who lauded the Commandant General, Ahmed Abubakar Audi for deeming it fit to establish the squad, described him as a true father who felt there was a need to put an end to kidnapping and banditry activities within and around schools across the country.
Also speaking, the State Commandant, Agboola Sunday, represented by the Deputy Commandant of Corps, Adeoti Olayinka Joseph commended the Commandant General for the initiative, he described him as a visionary leader and a lover of children.
Sunday said children are leaders of tomorrow, hence it is expedient to protect them from both internal and external attacks.
According to the NSCDC boss, the establishment of Special Female Squad was never by accident but for the development of the country because the trained female officers have been carryout special assignments and succeeding in their set goals.
While delivering a lecture titled: “Effects of Safe School on Gender Based Violence,” the guest speaker, Citizen Lola Way said safe school has to do with securing the learning environment and that the feminine gender is always at risk when GBV occurs.
She posited that a nation cannot experience peace if the rights of the female gender are wantonly abused.
Addressing the school children, Wey said, “GBV could be physical, verbal or emotional. I therefore urge you to break the silence when you see signs that someone wants to violate you. When you see something, say something and do something.”
In her remarks, Osun State Officer-in-Charge of Female Squad Commander, Ayodele Adepoju promised that the squad would always discharge its duties with high level of professionalism.
