The National Council for Women Society (NCWS), FCT Chapter, has rejected the apology of Senator Elisha Abbo for assaulting a nursing mother at an Abuja adult toy shop.
The FCT chair of NCWS, Hadiza Umar, on Sunday, advocated for stiffer punishment for Mr Abbo to serve as deterrent to others who assault women in workplace, shops or markets.
Abbo appeared in a video last week where he repeatedly hit a woman in the face for ‘interfering’ in a misunderstanding with the shop attendant.
Rejecting the lawmaker’s apology, Mrs Umar said: “I am here with my executives and members of NCWS FCT chapter for a peaceful demonstration on what an elected senator, who is supposed to serve us did to one of our women.
“We want to stop the barbaric habits on women either at home, in the markets, shops, workplace and everywhere in the country.
“We are women of integrity and mothers. We are not animals and we are saying no to violence against all women and the assault should stop with immediate effect.”
She called on the United Nations and all other international organisations to ensure the prosecution of Abbo in order to guard against future occurrence.
“We reject his apology and we will do everything within the ambit of law to demand justice for our fellow woman who was assaulted,” she said.
Acting Secretary of FCT Social Development Secretariat (SDS), Safiya Umar, said violence against women is an international offence stipulated in the UN Convention and Beijing Charter.
She said the secretariat had sent an invitation to Abbo to explain his side of the story.
Director of Gender Development Department, Hart Agnes, said the department would not relent in doing everything possible to stop violence against women, children and the physically challenged in the FCT.
