24/03/2026
Something is deeply wrong when women have to calculate their safety around festivals, streets, campuses, or simply stepping outside.
What has been reported in Ozoro is not just a trending story. It is a painful reminder that many women still move through life negotiating fear.
We must begin to ask harder questions.
What are community leaders doing to prevent harm before it happens.
How quickly do systems respond when women are put at risk.
Why do some young men feel entitled to intimidate or violate others.
Silence, excuses, and delayed action allow harmful behaviours to continue.
Survivors carry more than memories. They carry anxiety, disrupted sleep, loss of trust, and emotional distress that can affect education, work, and relationships. This is why mental health support must be part of the response.
Expanding access to lay counselling can help communities respond earlier and more compassionately. When trained community members are able to listen, support, and connect survivors to care, healing becomes more possible.
Safety is not a privilege. Dignity is not negotiable.
Communities must do better. Systems must do better. All of us must do better.