Nigerian celebrities have taken to social media platforms to react to the killings of Tina, a 16-year-old girl, and Vera Omozuwa, a 22-year-old student, who died after she was raped in a church in Edo.
On May 26, Tina was said to have been hit by a stray bullet when a police officer fired shots in a bid to apprehend a bus driver at Iyana-Oworo area of Lagos state.
At about the same time, Uwa, a 100-level microbiology student of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), was attacked, raped and had her head bashed with a fire extinguisher in a church in Benin, Edo State. She later died from injuries sustained.
Both killings had since triggered outrage on social media platforms as Nigerians have demanded justice using the hashtags #JusticeForTina and #JusticeForUwa.
Celebrities in the country also lent their voices as they took to various platforms to take a stand against rape, murder and killings by security operatives.
Adekunle Gold, Nigerian musician, said the girls’ deaths were indicative of the dawn of “a senseless generation” enabled by the society and failure of governance.
“Police do something o. We need justice and on time .na person pikin. Dem shoot poor girl wey nothing concern. World people can tire me sef,” Sound Sultan wrote on Twitter.
“I saw a thread on Twitter, different ladies writing about their traumatic rape experiences. I can’t begin to imagine how these women feel. The pain they suffered and are suffering mentally every day. It is so heartbreaking. I believe every rapist deserves to die,” Don Jazzy wrote on Instagram.
“If you are a rapist out there and you see this, you should be ashamed of yourself and I want you to know that one day you will pay for your barbaric crimes. This goes to rape apologists too and those that know a rapist and is protecting them. SHAME ON YOU!”
Here is what some celebrities had to say:
Police do something o. We need justice and on time .na person pikin .dem shoot poor girl wey nothing concern . World people can tire me sef . #justicefortina https://t.co/2sFu4IjsMb
Advertisement— @soundsultan (@Soundsultan) May 31, 2020
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The #NigerianWoman needs to feel safe everywhere! The church, home etc..She needs to know she can go out and be all that she can be without fear of harassment, rape or murder. The life of the girl child is at great risk. We need actionable punishment as a strong deterrent.
— Kate Henshaw (@HenshawKate) June 1, 2020
They either abuse their power, or have the power to abuse. In or out of uniform, we live in constant fear of men. Tina Ezekwe. Vera Omozuwa. Rest In Peace my darlings. We will get justice.🌹💔 pic.twitter.com/e9c4ODcEri
— Genevieve Nnaji MFR (@GenevieveNnaji1) May 31, 2020
#WeAreTired of senseless killings, lorries falling on road and killing passengers, ACs catching fire and burning houses, young girls getting raped, young boys killed by SARZ, no jobs for graduates, please add your own frustration because my list is long
— Tiwa Savage (@TiwaSavage) May 31, 2020
Uwa's story breaks me. We all have to admit that our parents have failed woefully in the raising of the male child. Concentrating too much on the conduct of the female child when it's actually the males who have the higher propensity to do evil! #JusticeForUwa
— DJINEE (@DJINEE) May 31, 2020
It’s so exhausting to see injustice continue to thrive time after time. Every time we say NOT AGAIN, and then there is a new story. Enough is enough. It’s too disheartening. Justice must be served for the innocent souls we keep on losing. #JusticeForTina #JusticeForUwa
— Bop Daddy (@falzthebahdguy) May 31, 2020
She had just been admitted to the University of Benin to study microbiology. She was 22. Uwa's dream of becoming a nurse has now been dashed by rapists and murders. All she wanted to do was read. When will girls feel safe again? #JusticeForUwa pic.twitter.com/fslvHzgLb8
— Nse Ikpe-Etim (@NseIkpeEtim) May 31, 2020
Everyday it's clear to see that we have to protect ourselves by ourselves, like to literally look out for each other. Tina Ezekwe and Vera Omozuwa are gone 🕊🕊
….. Justice must be served pic.twitter.com/otHYPuytv2
— 🤜🏾 #WOMANOFSTEEL 🤛🏾 (@yemialadee) May 31, 2020
We must continue to all use our voices and platforms till there is a crescendo and action taken. Please let’s continue to speak up. We are stronger together.
#JusticeForUwa #JusticeForTina #WeAreTired #StopViolenceAgainstWomen— Mo Abudu (@MoAbudu) May 31, 2020
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