#JusticeforUwa: Pastor Adeboye reacts to alleged rape and death of UNIBEN student as Nigerians call for justice

The internet erupted with protests over the weekend following reports that a 22-year-old student of the University of Benin, Uwa Omozuwa was allegedly raped and killed at a church.

According to reports, Uwa had gone to the closest RCCG branch to her school located at Ikpoba Hill in Benin City to read but was allegedly brutally raped and badly beaten instead.

18 days after, on 31 May, Uwa died at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. Nigerians then took to Twitter in the numbers to demand justice for Uwa.

The police have said in a statement that it cannot be ascertained whether she was raped or not without an autopsy report from the University of Benin Teaching Hospital as well as another hospital, the first one she was taken to.

A number of Nigerians, including celebrities Nse Ikpe-Etim, Adesua Etomi, Genevieve Nnaji, and singer, Djinee reacted to her death, calling for justice to be served in her case while condemning the society and badly raised men.

While the reception to these messages was generally positive, a number of men still took to the replies section, asking these aggrieved celebrities to ‘not cause further division’ by ‘generalizing’.

See some reactions to the terrible news below:

Rape apologists are as guilty as rapists themselves. Say NO to this despicable act cos it’s just appalling to say the least. #JusticeForUwa

— LAVIDA BOY (@Joeboy) June 1, 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

I can't post the pictures I've seen of Uwa. She went to church to study. She was 22. She was brutally raped and beaten. The culprits are on the run.
Uwa could have been any of us.#JusticeForUwa

— Adesua Etomi-Wellington (@AdesuaEtomiW) May 31, 2020

#JusticeForUwa
It is our collective responsibility to ensure Uwa gets justice!#SpotlightEndViolence #SpotlightNG @unwomenNG @comfortLUNWomen @2weta pic.twitter.com/4PbyErptNU

— Mirabel Centre(SARC) (@MirabelCentreNG) May 31, 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

A young woman went to read in church. She was brutalized and raped till she died. My heart is broken into a million pieces ?
Her name is Uwa.
Demand #JusticeForUwa
Silence is no longer available option!

— Kiki Mordi (@kikimordi) May 31, 2020

Utterly shocked at the news of #UwaOmozuwa horrific rape and murder.
She deserves nothing less than Justice.
I trust our @rccghq to help ensure it.
Too many young women brutally murdered in our country in recent times and it does not bode well for our society.
Justice is KEY.

— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) 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

In reaction to the news, the Governor of Benin State, Godwin Obaseki ordered an investigation into the situation. The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor EA Adeboye, also commiserated with Uwa’s family while promising to bring justice.

See the statements below:

1.
I have ordered the Nigeria Police Force ( @PoliceNG ) to thoroughly investigate the circumstances that led to the death of Miss Vera Uwaila Omozuwa, a 100-level student of the University of Benin (UNIBEN). #JusticeForUwa

— H. E. Godwin Obaseki (@GovernorObaseki) May 31, 2020

3.
Using this law, we would ensure to investigate what exactly transpired and deal decisively with the those found complicit in the dastardly act, whoever they might be. #JusticeForUwa

— H. E. Godwin Obaseki (@GovernorObaseki) May 31, 2020

matter and cooperating with the police to establish the facts of the shocking incident. . #justiceforuwa

— Pastor Adeboye (@PastorEAAdeboye) May 31, 2020