Women
Incessant Abduction Of Female Students: Time For Action
News of abduction of
innocent school girls have become a recurrent decimal in Nigeria and worst still in Borno State.
Ordinarily, one would have expected that having happened for a consecutive two times within a very short interval and within same locality, measures would have been put in place to forestall any recurrence.
Unfortunately, it is still the same old tune of the masters, our usual fire brigade approach, that is not even with exception to sensitive issues as life.
Borno State now serves as heaven of sort for men of the underworld to carry out their evil antics after all, “we are on top of the situation” and “we are winning the terrorism war” even with our whole body almost entirely dismembered.
Kudos! the Defence Headquarters said last Wednesday, that only eight of the 129 students abducted by the Boko Haram from the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State were still missing, meaning the rest have been released from their abductors. Otherwise, all the calls by Labour, Republic of China, the United Nations Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF), the first Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan to security operatives for urgent action would have still been considered one of those old songs of distraction.
All the same, with President Goodluck Jonathan’s summon of members of the National Security Council to a meeting at the Presidential Villa on the development in the country which will be followed by an enlarged meeting still on security developments in the country. With the State governors, one hopes it does not turn out the same old songs we are used to.
After the meetings and resolutions taken, how these resolutions applied, what happened to the resolutions of previous meetings after previous attacks? remains the concern of many.
Before now attention was on business moguls and relatives of politicians from whom they get some ransome now, who pays for the school girls whose sponsors may not be known? Is their intention still to make money out of the business?
This act of extremism as a means to an end has left so much to be desired.
Earlier in the week, the BBC have quoted parents to have told its Hausa Service that at least 200 girls were abducted by suspected Boko Haram insurgents on Tuesday, April 15, 2014 at the Senior Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, following a violent attack in the town.
The local news had it that no fewer than 100 girls were abducted at the same school by the same sect.
In spite of the discrepancy in the two reports, one fact that is not in contention is that scores of young female students were abducted by the suspected Boko Haram insurgents at a Senior Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State the third of its kind in same state.
Barely a month ago, the second version of this abduction of female students was recorded in the same state of Borno, involoving over 70 school girls, a situation that took women and mothers to the streets on black, in protest against what they described as an heinous act that must be condemned intoto.
According to a report by PM News on Thursday, February 13, 2014, the Boko Haram gunmen invaded the village of Konduga in Borno on Tuesday evening February 11, 2014, killing over 40 people and abducting 20 females.
“Gunmen from Islamic sect, Boko Haram are certainly not waiting for the reward of Martyrdom in heaven: the reward of 72 virgins by their creator, they are claiming the reward right here in Nigeria.” (PM News).
It would be recalled that in their attack on Konduga, Borno State, on Tuesday February 11, 2014, the menacing armed men did not just kill between 43 and 51 people, they also abducted 20 young girls from a local school, which the Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, described not only as barbaric, but unfortunate.
Fejiro Oliver, a writer says it is not clear why they were abducted but that a source familiar with the actions of the group has revealed that they may have been kidnapped as sex toys for the terrorists.
“You know most of the Secondary School girls in the north are virgins and Boko Haram need virgins to sleep with to quench their sex hunger,” the source said.
For whatever reasons that could be adduced for the perpetration of this dastardly act, it is a slight on the dignity of womanhood and lack of respect for the sanctity of life.
Can any sane mind justify any of the duo: ritual and sex toy purposes for the abduction of these innocent young minds?
Intermitently, schools especially in the north east zone of Nigeria are being closed down due to the activities of the evil men. Even when these schools are not officially closed down, it is not possible that students of these affected schools could be at ease to attend classes in their school in the face of all the dangers and risk? Even where the males summon courage to go to classes perhaps with the understanding that they are not the target, what becomes of the females?
What then is the hope for our children’s edcuation, life and future?
It is quite worrisome that the number of victims keeps increasing with each subsequent attack. From 20 girls in the February 11th attack, to 70 girls in the March 2nd attack and now over 100 girls in the April 15th attack. Who knows what the rate would be in the next attack should there be no obvious intervention by the government.
Much as the Boko Haram members are being suspected for every terrorist attack in Nigeria, it is important not to lose sight of the fact that “armed robbers and other criminals are fast abandoning their trades for the more lucrative business of kidnapping. Behind the abduction gangs springing up across the country are young smart and intelligent university graduates who are being lured into crime by growing unemployment.” (Olaolu Olusina and Anayo Okolie).
Criminals and men of the underworld are surely beating the law enforcement and security officers to the game by changing their tactics. The criminals, no doubt, are putting their guns to use for another business considered “less cumbersome but more rewarding”.
At a summit held in Lagos two years ago, the Regional Vice President, Africa American Society for Industrial Security, Mr Dennis Amachree, disclosed that, of the top 10 countries with high kidnapping records in 2007, Nigeria occupied the 6th position. But Nigeria ever since, has moved up to the third position, behind Mexico and Columbia.
Nigeria could remain in any position it so wishes in crime, the question in everyone’s lip is, will the security agents ever be on top of this ugly monster as always claimed?
It is so unfortunate that in the face of obvious and devastating consequences, the federal and state governments have still not proven to the citizenry that there is any form of counter-check especially in Bornu State, even when the constitution is so glaring on matters of security and welfare of the people as the primary purpose of government.
Women protesting against the activities of evil men in Port Harcourt, Rivers State recently.
Sylvia ThankGod-Amadi
IVY-K Fashion by Igiebor Daddy Lucky, a Nigerian-born designer now based in the UK, has launched the latest menswear line, Dapper Man.
One of the collection’s strengths is its classic, clean aesthetic. Dapper Man delivers sharp, structured suits in a timeless black and white color scheme that exudes a sense of luxury and professionalism. The use of high-quality fabrics like wool and silk ensures that the suits not only look high-end but also feel luxurious to the wearer. The designer’s focus on detail is evident in the meticulous tailoring, with fitted blazers and crisp trousers forming the foundation of the collection.
Where IVY-K Fashion shines is in the subtle yet elegant touches. The inclusion of beads as embellishments on lapels and cuffs adds a unique flair, blending traditional craft with modern tailoring. This nod to African heritage gives the collection a distinct identity, offering something more personal and culturally significant than your standard menswear line.
However, despite the elegance of the Dapper Man collection, there is a lingering sense of missed opportunity. The black-and-white color palette, while classic, feels overly safe. In a fashion landscape where bold colors and daring patterns often make the strongest impact, the collection could benefit from incorporating more vibrant hues or experimenting with unconventional fabrics. Pushing the envelope with color or texture could elevate these designs from simply elegant to truly memorable.
In addition, while the tailoring of the blazers and trousers is immaculate, the collection lacks a sense of playfulness or modern edge that many contemporary menswear lines are embracing. The suits are undoubtedly stylish, but the collection as a whole leans heavily on tradition. Experimenting with asymmetrical cuts, bold patterns, or even layering could add an exciting dimension to Dapper Man. The challenge is to maintain the sleek sophistication of the collection while infusing it with a fresh, innovative spirit.
Another area that could use improvement is the overall cohesion of the collection. While the suits are well-crafted, there is a feeling of repetition across the pieces. More variation in design, such as different lapel styles, pocket configurations, or even bolder accessories, would give the collection greater diversity and visual interest.
In conclusion, Dapper Man by Igiebor Daddy Lucky showcases the designer’s strong grasp of classic tailoring and elegant design, but to truly capture the attention of a broader audience, IVY-K Fashion would benefit from more daring choices. By infusing the collection with bold colors, unexpected textures, and a more modern edge, Dapper Man could move from a well-crafted line to a trendsetting force in men’s fashion. With such a solid foundation, there’s no doubt that Igiebor Daddy Lucky has the potential to lead his brand toward greater heights
The trend of indecent dressing all in the name of fashion is fast becoming a norm in our generation and society at large. Most married women embrace this fashion as competition with single ladies.
Different scholars have given an in depth insight about dressing as a tool of communication. Non-verbal communication has been asserted as the communication between people by the means of signs or symbols. It conveys what we wish to disseminate to the public as either intentionally or not.
According to Paul Ekman and Michael Argyle, communication is carried out through what has been classified as “Presentational Code”. He listed nine codes of non-verbal communication, as body contact, facial expression, gestures, postures, eye movement, proximity, orientation, head nods and appearance.
This, being stated, married and single ladies should understand that their mode of dressing is communicative be it directly or indirectly as such body parts we call “private” are now being made public because of the trends or wearing of transparent dresses and this in turn calls on the attention of men who are weak and prone to illicit thoughts thus, resulting to most rape cases in our society.
This indecent dressing by most ladies has denied many their future husbands. The truth is that a man is attracted to his kind; his desires in marriage. It is often asserted that decency and beauty are in the eyes of the beholder, yet, in trending times of this 21st century, dress code and fashion in nudity form is gaining popularity.
This has become complicated as most men tend to toggle between their emotions (lust) and sanity (rationality) in terms of marriage, thereby setting a wrong foundation upon which most marriages are consummated.
On the other hand, most married women have embraced the trend of indecent dressing nipping it on the state of it being the choice dressing, approved by their spouses, leaving society with the question of what “responsible” man would prefer that the secrecy of the benefit of his marital vow has become the centre of attraction and viewership by the general public.
Hence, communicating with their dressing gas given licence to every male gender who is interested or attracted to what they see to make unsolicited sexual passes at them, which might be considered embarrassing.
At this juncture, it is important to state that ladies should dress decently knowing that they are the epitome of nation-building, they are nation-builders, character moulders and pacesetters not just in the lives of their families but to the society at large.
In most occasions, there are no clear border lines between the married women and the single ladies because of the rate of scanty dressing which has close the gap of differences.
Women and girls should embrace this call awakening to decent mode of dressing. Dresses that are meant to be worn indoors should remain indoors.
It is worrisome to see ladies wear shorts that are supposed to be worn in the living room on the streets without shame. This is an awakening call to our ladies, married and singles that the opposite sex do not expose their private body parts for the public. Sometimes, the ladies go about in the streets without wearing brazziers as to showcase their nipples.
The society should be sanitised of the menace of indecent dressing that is lurking and taking over the entire nooks and crannies of the society and the nation at large.
Let it be known that he or she is addressed in the manner he or she is dressed. There may be no room for a second impression. To the single ladies, your dressing decently will not stop you from meeting your Mr Right rather, it will increase your stake and place you on the list of most valued women in the society.
Dressing speaks louder than words.
Kate Chisom Isiocha
Isiocha is an OND final year student of Temple Gate Polytechnic.
