Christian mothers in Owerri cries out over victimization by their own sons

Persistent victimization and rape that is experienced daily by the christian women of a rural community in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area in Imo state have made them cried out to the government and the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiatical Province, Dr. Anthony Obinna, over alleged atrocities being committed by their sons and daughters in the area.

According to Vanguard, the women made this appeal during a recent visit to the Catholic Archbishop at the Maria Assumpta Catholic Cathedral in Owerri.

    "We are raped and molested by our own children. You cannot come to Mgbuishii and return home safely because of the crime rate" the women said

According to the women, they have complained to the state government and other security agents over the high rate of crime being committed by their children but all their complaints have not been answered.

    "We are angry because government is not looking at our direction at all. We have been completely abandoned for years. Now we have no good roads, no electricity, no market, nothing is going on in our place. To make things worse, we are now suffering from insecurity" they said

The women decried the lack of police presence within their community. They say their sons have become so wayward that they beat up any police man who tries to intervene during any criminal activity within the community.

    "Each time we report cases to the police and they manage to send their men at all, the criminals beat them(policemen) up because they (criminals) parade more sophisticated weapons than what the policemen have. We needed police escort to get here (Maria Assumpta Cathedral) and we will also need them to go back home" they said

The women also said they are thinking of relocating from their villages to safer places in Rivers state. They say even the catholic priest in their community is also threatening to leave their community

    "Even the Reverend Father in our place is complaining and threatening to go away. About two weeks ago, some reverend sisters visited our place and were waylaid on the road and robbed. We have a lot of problems and that is why the women have come to complain to the Archbishop, who is our father in the lord" they said

The Archbishop after listening to all their complains prayed for the women.