by Anwuli Oseloka
“Their testimony was a pack of lies, falling apart like a deck of cards. This serial pedophile, a headteacher who is supposed to teach his kids values, stooped so low and defiled the underage females; what a shame! This irresponsible and randy teacher who teaches his students nonsense, should be locked away,”
These were the words of the Justice Abiola Soladoye of the Sexual and Domestic Violence Court in Ikeja who sentenced Benjamin Ogba, a schoolteacher, to life in prison for defiling two young girls, both aged seven on October 8th 2024.
Several sexual assault cases have happened over the years to underage girls in schools who get stigmatized for speaking up so some rather keep quiet. This immoral act of sexual harassment has suddenly eaten into the educational system leaving the girl child vulnerable to predators.
There should be a strict enforcement of rules and clear consequences for those who engage in harassment. Schools should also establish well-publicized channels for reporting harassment, ensuring that girls know where to go if they need help as it is in some schools in South Arica.
‘Sexual harassment in schools can take many forms either by inappropriate comments, unwanted touching, threats from fellow students, teachers, or even school staff. So it is important to educate the girl child to report such instances when she notices any of such’ said Kolawole an NYSC corper.
The way things are going these days, parents need to do a lot educating their children about sex, not just the girl child because there are too many explicit videos and pictures everywhere. Children do not know right from wrong so if they are lured and threatened, they would be scared to speak up’’ said Femi a school Teacher.
‘I believe a panel should be set up at every school that handles sexual harassment with strict punishment on offenders. This could reduce the rate of molestation on the girl child and an opportunity to speak up before any harm is done to the child because these cases are on the rise by day,’ said Nurse Faith.
Adeshola a hair stylist said ‘Anytime I hear sexual harassment in school, I remember the viral Chrisland underage girl’s video. Sometimes I wonder who is to blam, did she get violated at school? Or at home? What has she been watching? How didn’t her mother notice anything about her daughter? A lot of questions run through my mind that I always pray to God that when I start having children, I have the right words to tell them to avoid sexual exploitation or harassment at school’.
‘I do not joke with my kids, most especially my daughters. I check their bags when they get back from school, I ask them questions about anyone touching them or showing them pictures or videos, we have not shown them in the house, what their friends talk about, if they are liking any boy or teacher at school etc. I make them feel they can trust me and talk to me about anything. I make them know no one can hurt them if they do not give them a chance to. If any of my kids get hurt, I know I would not be able to forgive myself so I try my best and ask God to do the rest’ said Mrs Ogunmola a pharmacist.
The Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Uju Kennedy on Tuesday in Abuja at a one-day national stakeholders’ engagement on sexual harassment prevention in collaboration with the Gender Mobile Initiative said ‘measures are being put in place to tackle the menace of sexual harassment in the country through the establishment of mobile courts for proper prosecution of perpetrators’
