………Says it will send wrong signals to other groups and would amount to rewarding criminal behavior
Nigeria Association Of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), FCT Chapter has condemned attempts by government to negotiate the release of the students and staff of Government Science School, Kagara, Niger state with the bandits suspected to be responsible for the kidnapping.
According to a communiqué at the end of its Maiden Congress For 2021 on Saturday, January 20, 2021, at the NUJ Secretariat, Utako Abuja, jointly signed by Chairperson NAWOJ FCT, Annah Daniel and Secretary, Nkiru Nnoli Okeke, they said that any form of negotiation with bandits or any other criminal group must be discouraged as it may send the wrong signals to other groups and would amount to rewarding criminal behaviour.
The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), FCT Chapter also discussed a range of issues including the state of insecurity in the country especially the spate of violent crimes, kidnapping of school children in particular as well as the rising cases of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) among others.
Congress in session resolved as follows: That the spate of violent crimes, especially kidnapping of school children was alarming and an indication that the existing security architecture needed overhauling to ensure the effective security of lives and property.
Congress condemned the recent kidnapping of students and staff of Government Science School, Kagara, Niger state, and tasked the federal government to take proactive action by providing adequate security across schools and communities engulfed with crisis in the country.
The women journalists also condemned attempts by government to negotiate the release of the victims with the bandits suspected to be responsible for the kidnapping of the school children and the staff of the school.
According to them, any form of negotiation with bandits or any other criminal group must be discouraged as it may send the wrong signals to other groups and would amount to rewarding criminal behaviour.
Congress in session also raised the alarm over the increasing rate of SGBV and tasked government at all levels to ensure that perpetrators of such crimes were punished to serve as deterrent to others.
The Congress lamented that most cases of SGBV were not reported as family members were often involved, even as reported cases are often settled as the victims are often reluctant to pursue the case for fear of being stigmatised.
The women journalists, therefore, tasked Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and other stakeholders on sensitisation of the pubic on the need to report SGBV and other crimes to ensure culprits are punished.
On a good note, the Congress congratulated Dr Okonjo Iweala on the unprecedented feat of her appointment as the Director General World Trade Organisation (WTO), noting that it was a huge boost for Nigeria women as they continue in the quest to attain gender equality and equity.
The women journalists tasked Nigerian women not to give up, notwithstanding the challenges along the way as victory was certain with consistency and hard work as exemplified by Mrs. Okonjo Iweala and other women who have distinguished themselves in their chosen fields of endeavour.
NAWOJ also appealed to security agents handling the case of the female student of Community Secondary School, Ikot Ewa, Cross River state, who allegedly came to school with a pistol to kill her teacher, to treat it in accordance with cases involving minors.
The Association also commended journalists on their efforts to protect the nation’s democracy and urge them to uphold the ethics of the profession in the discharge of their duty.
