-During Christmas celebration In Nimba County
BY: Shallon S. Gonlor
NIMBA COUNTY – Several female teenagers and underaged children of the ages 5 to 17 are reported of being raped, and sexually harassed during the night of Christmas in Nimba County.
On Monday, December 25, 2023, Christmas night was flooded with children, aged in various villages, towns, and cities of Nimba County and other parts of Liberia simultaneously in commemoration of the Christmas festival. Unfortunately, the night was somehow sexually charged.
Notably, in Sanniquellie City, Nimba County a large number of underaged children dressed up in diverse forms at various local bars and entertainment centers late Monday night, sipping their favorite drinks, including Stout, 10%, and Vodka among others, resulting in several female minors and teenagers being intoxicated and sexually abused.
A 14-year-old girl, (named withheld) is among some of the rape survivors who lost their virginity during the night of Christmas, after liquoring up.
The survivor was on Monday, December 25, gang raped by two unknown boys in an unfinished building around the Sanniquellie City main street.
At age 14, leaving her parents’ home, and going out for merrymaking, she was raped, losing her virginity at an early age during the night of Christmas.
According to her, in the club, after spending time with her friends during intake of drinks (stout and 10%) poured on the table, she decided to go home at about 10:00 pm, adding that while leaving the club the boys earlier insisted on accompanying her, but later asked her to give them money, which she refused.
She further explained that the boys immediately pointed knives and scissors at her, and took her to an unfinished building, where she was temper with.
The survivor, with teary eyes, also narrated that she was intoxicated, as such- she couldn’t remember much about what followed next after they confronted her with the weapons. Fortunately, she said she later realized that she was sexually abused and abandoned by the alleged perpetrators.
The teenager was severely wounded by the alleged perpetrators. However, the Liberian National Police (LNP) is yet to make an arrest in the case up to press time.
The survivor is meanwhile seeking medical treatment at a hospital, while the suspects remain on the run as the Ministry of Justice, Women and Children Social Protection Section of the Liberia National Police intensifies the search to bring them to justice.
WOMENVOICES NEWSPAPER has reliably learned that community dwellers of Sanniquellie City are aiding the survivor’s parents and police authorities in the investigation.
Sources said citizens of the area have informed police authorities of smelling information about the perpetrators, even though, it’s still contradicting.
However, the parents of the minor are being pressed to assist the police in the investigation to determine further charges against the perpetrators for raping a 14-year-old girl in violation of 14.70 of the Criminal Procedure Law Revised Penal Code of Liberia.
Since Christmas night, there has been an outrage over sexual-related offenses, across Liberia including the raping of vulnerable girls during the Christmas celebration, which has since sparked public outcry.
At the same time, a man, age 24 has allegedly raped a 10-year-old girl, leaving her in critical medical condition in Saclepea City, Lower Nimba County, but her perpetrator remains at large.
The 10-year-old girl became another rape survivor of the unpleasant outcome of Christmas night in Saclepea City, Lower Nimba County.
The alleged perpetrator’s action has sparked intense anger and criticism in Saclepea City, and its surroundings with lots of women heard crying out for justice and respect for women’s and children’s rights.
They claimed that the numerous rape incidents in the country showed that their lives and that of their children are under threat.
Rape is a second-degree felony in Liberia and is punishable with a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment. However, in the case of minors, it is a felony of the first degree, which can garner a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
The issue of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), particularly rape in Liberia has reportedly been on the increase despite thousands of Liberians protesting against the crime in a bid to draw local and international attention to the country’s alarming rate of sexual assault.
The high rates of rape in Liberia have been a long-standing concern.
Most of Liberia’s children, adolescents, and youth are trapped in a cycle of violence, poverty, and deprivation, experience violence, struggle to get educated, and find it difficult to find decent employment.
Violence against children and adolescents, especially girls, is rampant, including rape, abuse, harassment and exploitation. Sexual harassment in schools in the form of ‘sex for grades’ and ‘sex for school fees’ is common.
The consequences of violence, abuse, and exploitation on the lives of children and adolescents can be profoundly harmful and long-lasting, given its devastating negative impact on children’s development and well-being.
Harmful cultural and traditional practices, such as child marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM) are among the worst forms of violence practiced against children in Liberia.
Children and adolescents are at risk of violence, abuse, and exploitation from a complex web of factors.
