Late last month, National Youth Service corper, Grace Ushang was brutally raped and murdered while on her tour of duty in Maiduguri. Apparently, she was metted out this sentence for wearing trousers. Yes, the same khaki trousers that have been part and parcel of the NYSC uniform since God-knows-when.
For the past few weeks, several have drawn links between the death of Grace Ushang and the proposed Indecent Dressing Bill authored by Senator Ufot Ekaette. The bill for the Act to Prohibit and Punish Public Nudity, Sexual Intimidation, and other Related Offences demands that women, over the age of fourteen, remained covered from two inches below the shoulder to just below the knees. Additionally, Ekaette has included a clause that attempts to stifle widespread sexual harassment of females in universities, workplaces, etc. Though Ekaette’s pet project failed to pass its third reading last year, the argument, largely circulated by Asma’u Joda and Iheoma Obibi of the Nigerian Feminist Forum, is that legislation such as Ekaette’s indirectly promote vigilante violence against women who are found to be violation of various number of other-imposed dressing codes. Extreme interpretations of Ekaette’s call to action could lead to several repeats of the the Ushang travesty. Some areas of Nigeria bear a proclivity towards vigilantism, and the Nigerian police force is at times a mere extension of the highest bidder. Add religious fanaticism to the mix, and quite literally, all hell breaks loose. If the connection between religious fundamentalism (both Christian and Islamic) and the endangerment of our country’s females has not yet been made through the Ushang case, I am certain it will become all the more clearer with the passing of similarly-minded bills.
A month has passed and the perpetuators of Ushang’s rape and murder have not yet been apprehended. I have not yet come to terms with the idea that at this point in time, we know the motives of the perpetrators, but no one has been arrested. I wholeheartedly disagree with the idea that Ushang’s rape and eventual death was the result of her wearing khaki trousers. Those men who attacked Ushang did so, not in the name of Allah; but rather, they acted on their animalistic urges, which looms relatively unchecked in a society where violence against women remains pervasive. The fact that there is an excuse being circulated as to why Ushang was attacked so ruthlessly is a glaring indictment on our nation’s view of rape and other violent acts committed against women. We all know, (minus Senator Ekaette), that the worn-out excuse of “her trousers (skirt, blouse, what-have-you) made me do it” is a pretty pathetic explanation for anything. However, the fact that we even try to explain away such heinous crimes is orders of magnitude more pathetic. Any explanation for rape other than the rapist is, truly, a sick bastard, directly or indirectly shifts blame to the victim. If such is not the case or intention, blaming Ushang’s khakis is some twisted means by which to rationalize the brutality of the crime. Needless to say, I don’t buy into either — blaming the victim, nor tempering the barbaric nature of the crime with some careless explanation. Let’s call a spade a spade — wonton violence is wonton violence and can only be perpetuated by the vilest of the vile.
In response to the rape and murder of Grace Ushang, the National Youth Service Director-General, has simply instructed youth corpers to be more “security conscious.” Sokari, of Black Looks, finds such a response, incredible and details in her comments that women should have the right to reject assignments to troubled areas of the country. Some report that the President has called for NYSC coordinators to not post youth corpers to “troubled spots.” However, there is no word yet on how or when such measures will be implemented.
While I am support of any endeavour to prevent the posting of corpers, particularly women, to dangerous sites, such measures fail to address a very important underlying issue. When NYSC Director-General, in the wake of the Ushang rape and murder, calls for corpers to be more “security-conscious,” he unknowingly subscribes to the belief that such incidents can largely be prevented on the part of the would-be victim. Shortly after the death of Ushang, a House amendment to create a youth corper uniform that adheres to “religious and cultural” standards was proposed. Fortunately such a move was swiftly rejected.
“Be security-conscious,” “don’t wear clothing that may arouse the interest of men,” “don’t make him angry, lest he beat you” – these statements are examples of how we as a society have come to accept that sexual assault against women can be ascribed to some aspect of the victim’s behavior. Last year, author Chimamanda Adichie penned the following about arguments against Ekaette’s bill:
“Many Nigerians have pointed out how silly the bill is when we have serious problems with power, health, education, roads, water. Still, to offer these alternatives is to give the bill a legitimacy of sorts. If we solved these serious problems, would it then be acceptable to punish a woman in a putative democracy who chooses to wear a miniskirt? (emphasis mine) ”
Similarly, if vigilantism and religious fundamentalism were not an issue, Ekaette’s bill would still be problematic. Beyond invasion of personal freedom, it silently gives credence to the idea that victims of sexual assault are somehow responsible for their fate.
There has been a foundation raised in honor of the memory of Grace Ushang to fight sexual assault. Details can be found here.
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What this story tells me is that rape and violence against women as a whole remains a secondary issues across Nigeria. Forcing women to dress in a certain way is itself a form of violence as it comes with threat of punishment if one transgresses. Thank goodness the NYC uniform for women was not changed — this is not the sort of protection I envisaged as you say rightly it would fail to deal with the underlying issue which is the status of women in Nigerian society and what men feel they are entitled to do to women. I dont know where the rape took place but if it was on campus why were these men free to come and go but ultimately the protection lies in the attitude towards the crime by the NYC authorities and local police to seek out the rapists and murderers. By claiming they cannot protect women they are saying they cannot be bothered to pursue the perpetrators of this crime. Do we imagine for one minute that this is the first rape in the history of the NYC in any region of the country — I doubt it. Nonetheless in those parts of the country which have in my opinion illegally instated Sharia law I would not wish to serve — because by insisting on total cover up of women — the law intentionally or otherwise sanctions physical and sexual aggression against anyone who does not comply whether by the security forces or the general public.
Entitlement to touch, to harass, to insist on sex in exchange for jobs, education and so on — rape is the extreme on a spectrum of sexual harassment which is not outside society’s acceptable mores. Sexual abuse is committed because men feel they are entitled to women’s bodies and they can get away with it for one thing by claiming she “asked for it” by the way she did this or that including dress. Society’s response to the raped woman is to stigmatise her rather than the rapist.
Where are the killers of Grace Ushang (the recently murdered youth corps member in Borno State)? I have not heard of any police investigation initiated (be it original or counterfeit) on this matter! What is happening for God sake? But we cannot continue like this! We cant just continue like this! Are there no human right lawyers again? Is the Senator representing the area where the lady hailed from actually sensible? Dont they have House-of-Rep member from the area? Who are they representing? Her state governor too appeared to be silent. What about the academic community in her school … Read morethat sent her name to NYSC for mobilization? If her parents are poor, shouldnt they be supported to acheive justice on this ugly incident dat can make a parent sad for life? My fellow Nigerians, this is total heartlessness. Something must be done.
Didn’t you know that women bring everything on themselves? Society has nothing whatsoever to do with it *rolls eyes*
Ever since I heard this story something about it doesn’t ring true. In all honesty, I agree with Nneoma and I find it strange we somehow know the ‘reason’ Grace was attacked but not who did it.
My personal leaning is that the dress code issue was brought in by a misogynist do-gooding local official who feels it an appropriate excuse. What concerns me is that this attitude is potentially why they haven’t reported the making of any arrests or even the general local harrassment that comes with police supposedly investigating a crime.
Grace’s attackers are sick. Their reasons are their own, but the hijacking of reasonable cause based on dress code is definitely a national disease we need to cure fast!
@sokari — Yes, the indecent dressing laws do serve as a form of violence in that they target women who are assumed to bring down the fall of society through dress. As for the location of the assault, it was not far from the hostel designated for corpers. Ushang simply went out in the evening for supper, since NYSC does not provide such amenities. Again I agree with the comments made on your blog that if NYSC, and by extension, the govt cannot protect its volunteers in such volatile areas, then certain sites should be banned. However, I personally feel the assault of Ushang could very well have been carried out in any other part of Nigeria, due our insensitivity to cases of sexual assault. Remember, Ekaette comes from Ushang’s neighboring state, which demonstrates the pervasiveness of such attitudes towards women.
“Men feel they are entitled to women’s bodies…” I would go on to say, that in our country, a woman’s body is not her own, as evidenced by the government’s attempt to legislate women’s dress.
@Bakare — From what I last heard, Ushang’s attacker’s remain at-large. I linked to an article from 234NEXT which indicates that a number of govt officials have expressed their outrage at this incident. However, in this same article, one representative dared to use this occasion to present his/her grievances about the NYSC women’s uniform. Fortunately, such proposal was shot down.
@Omosi T — I hear your sarcasm, but unfortunately, your comments ring true for certain segments of the population.
@Lolobloggs — Quite possibly so…which reinforces the argument that such NYSC postings are unsafe for women.