Stop Violence Against Women, Group Warns Kogi Politicians 

A group, Women’s Effect Initiative International (WELL) has asked political parties contesting the forthcoming Kogi State governorship election to stop their members from killing women.

Its director-general (DG), Arewa Abiola Abimbola, made the appeal while addressing the press yesterday in Lokoja. She expressed concern over the woman killed in Koton-Karfe, the headquarters of Kogi local government area last weekend.

Abiola lamented that the state has lost another vibrant woman, a sister and mother in the middle of her prime and at a time her family needs her most.

The DG urged interested parties in the forthcoming Kogi governorship election to embrace peace, pointing out that the state cannot continue to lose the lives of women in the name of election.

She said, “It is so disheartening that we are losing such vibrant women in our society in the name of political interest.

“We use this medium to express dismay at the killing of a woman at Koton-Karfe at the weekend. We want a halt to this killing in our society again. As women, if we cannot be protected, then there is no point following the men participating in politics if our lives and security cannot be guaranteed.

“In 2019 we lost Salome Abu, the woman was killed, till date nothing has happened, meaning that she died for free,” Abiola said.

The director-general urged citizens of the state to see themselves as brothers and sisters, pointing out that “if we kill ourselves because of somebody’s interest, they may get there and not recognize you”, insisting that it is not worth dying for.

Abiola urged the people of Kogi State to see themselves as one family, desist from political violence and called on government at all levels, security agencies to help in the protection of women and children before, during and after the governorship election from violence.

She expressed optimism of a peaceful election, urging women to collect their permanent voter cards (PVCs) to enable them participate in the forthcoming election.