A Nigerian feminist group As Equals Nigeria has called out Nigerian men for not speaking up for the 70 women reportedly arrested in Abuja for being prostitutes.

The group took to Twitter on Tuesday to vent its anger that there was no outrage from several anti-police brutality and #EndSARS campaigners over the clampdown, wondering whether it is only male lives that matter in Nigeria.

WuzupNigeria reports that no fewer than 70 ladies were arrested at different locations in the city on allegations they were sex workers.

The group said it found it shameful that instead of tackling the fact that the women arrested were allegedly assaulted by the police with injuries in their vaginas, the opinion of the general public is that “good women” should stay at home because going clubbing means “inviting” violence.

As Equals Africa wrote in a Twitter thread,

“70 women were arrested by the police in Abuja, Nigeria for “clubbing” and being “prostitutes”. Yet there is hardly any outrage as compared to when men are the victims of police brutality. It seems that only male lives are worth counting.

“It is such a shame that instead of tackling the fact that these women were assaulted by the police with injuries in their vaginas, the opinion of the general public is that “good women” should stay at home because going clubbing means “inviting” violence.

“It is sad that the police which is supposed to protect citizens including women, is at the forefront of sexual violence. It is the Nigerian police that often tells abused women to go back because “family matters are to be handled privately”.

“It is the Nigerian police that threatens women with rape. It is the Nigerian police that rapes women prison inmates. It is the Nigerian police that rapes sex workers as “punishment” for being “wayward”.

“It is the Nigerian police force that sends away pregnant unmarried policewomen from the force. It is the Nigerian police that assaults women protesters. It is the Nigerian police that shames rape victims and let rapists go if they bribe.

“Since it has become obvious that #ENDSARS and other anti-police brutality movements in Nigeria do not care about women victims, we at As Equals Africa are demanding justice for Nigerian women victims of police brutality by ourselves. That is why we should.”

 

See the tweet:

70 women were arrested by the police in Abuja, Nigeria for “clubbing” and being “prostitutes”.

Yet there is hardly any outrage as compared to when men are the victims of police brutality.
It seems that only male lives are worth counting. #SayHerNameNigeria

— As Equals Africa (@AsEqualsAfrica) April 29, 2019