raped at four of the designated resettlement
camps established for flood victims in Makurdi, the
Benue State capital.
Vanguard Newspaper investigations revealed that
rape cases have become a daily occurrence in the
four official camps spread across the state capital
for flood victims.
It was also gathered that perpetrators of the
unholy act were young men who reside in the
camps with their victims and some who come from
within the communities where the camps are
situated.
From Wurukum to Saint Catherine and Wadata
camps, it was the same sad story. One of the
victims, a girl of 19 who craved anonymity
disclosed that she was raped two days ago at
about 10pm by a young man she couldn't identify.
She said: "I just walked back into the camp after I
had visited a former neighbour in town. I got into
the camp that evening, while walking towards the
classrooms where we sleep, somebody called my
name from a dark spot.
"I tried to find out who it was, but before I knew
what was happening, somebody grabbed me from
behind and threatened that he would stab me to
death if I shouted. He grabbed me down and raped
me.
"I am not the only one they have done this to,
there are so many other girls; there are over 19 of
us that have been raped in the last few days, but
we are all hiding it because of the shame, but if we
don't cry out we will not get help because we are
helpless."
"And if we don't cry out because of the shame, the
people behind this evil acts will continue to
torment girls and women in the camps."
When contacted, the Deputy Police Public Relations
Officer, PPRO, for Benue State, Assistant
Suprintendent of Police Ejike Alaribe said the rape
cases have not been brought to the notice of the
Police.
Alaribe, however, assured that the Police would
intensify its surveillance around the camps in the
town to stem the unhealthy development.
