Genevieve to Rita Dominic: Stars Lend Voice to Tina, UNIBEN Student’s Killings

There has been fierce outrage in the Nigerian Entertainment industry over the killings of Tina, a 16-year-old girl, and Vera Omozuwa, a 22-year-old student, who died after she was raped in a church.

On May 27, Tina was pronounced dead at a hospital after she was hit by a stray bullet when a police officer fired shots in a bid to apprehend a bus driver at Iyana-Oworo area of Lagos state.

Simultaneously, Uwa Omozuwa a 100-level microbiology student of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), was attacked, raped and her head bashed with a fire extinguisher while reading in a church in Benin, Edo State. She later succumbed to the injuries sustained.

Both killings have sent shockwaves around the country with Nigerians demanding justice on social media using the hashtags #JusticeForTina and #JusticeForUwa.

Meanwhile, both killings have not gone unnoticed by some of the biggest stars in Nigeria, who have taken to social media to take a stand against rape, murder and killings by security operatives.

Here is what some celebrities had to say:

Genevieve Nnaji

One of the most powerful voices in Nollywood took to social media to demand justice for Tina and Uwa. Nnaji called out men for abusing their power. According to her, women have lived in constant fear of men for a very long time.

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

Rita Dominic

Nollywood actress, Rita Dominic also shared an image of Uwa and Tina on her Instagram, demanding justice using the hashtags #JusticeForTina and #JusticeForUwa.

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 There is nothing that these 3 GIRLS have done to deserve the atrocities that has befallen them. Tina was killed by a policeman whose job was to protect her. She was 16years old Uwa a university student went to a church to read and she was raped and murdered. She was only 22 years old. Jennifer was raped by 11 men. She is just 12 years old. 12 years old for goodness sake! What are we doing wrong that boys and men think that it is ok to continue violating girls and women in this manner? Let me tell you what. We are not punishing the men who commit these atrocities in this country. We are not doing enough to hold RAPISTS accountable. We are not doing enough to check POLICE BRUTALITY. We demand justice for these young girls! Our government and our justice system must respond to these matters PROMPTLY. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
 
A post shared by  Rita Dominic (@ritadominic) on May 31, 2020 at 9:48am PDT
 

Mercy Johnson-Okojie

Mercy Johnson urged Nigerians to come together to put an end to the endless killings in the country.

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Coming online to see what has been happening these past few days has been truly heartbreaking. Where do we start? What can we do from wherever we are? Here’s some important information from @bellanaijaonline We need to know how to come together to help fight it, help heal those who have been hurt. The hashtags #JusticeForTina, #JusticeForUwa, and #BlackLivesMatter have been trending for the past few days here’s how you can lend your voice. Rape, sexual harassment, sexual assault, murder are one of the most terrible crimes on earth and it happens every few minutes. We are really thankful that social media has helped spark hot debates on this issue and calling for arrest and prosecution of culprits. We must continue to keep up hope as we fight, push for the strengthening of the laws and follow up with enforcing them. We must demand a safer Nigeria because it is our right as citizens. This is not the time to stay silent! Let’s keep on trending the hashtags for awareness – #JusticeForUwa, #JusticeforTina, #StopRape, #EndRape, #JusticeForJennifer, #NoToRape. And, more importantly, let’s pray for the affected families. Swipe left for a list of centres where domestic and sexual violence survivors can get help in Nigeria. Or reach out to WARIF @warif_ng, STER @standtoendrape, @dsvrt Human Development Initiatives @hdi4nigeria.
 
A post shared by  Mercy Johnson Okojie (@mercyjohnsonokojie) on May 31, 2020 at 10:51pm PDT
 

Nse Ikpe Etim

Nse lend her voice to the multitude of emotions being felt by many over the killing of Uwa which has dashed her hope of becoming a nurse.

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

Tiwa Savage

Tiwa Savage Expressed her frustration over the incessant murder killings of innocent Nigerians by security operatives, raping of young ladies and the high rate of unemployment.

#WeAreTired of senseless killings, lorries falling on road and killing passengers, ACs catching fire and burning houses, young girls getting raped, young boys killed by SARZ, no jobs for graduates, please add your own frustration because my list is long

— Tiwa Savage ⚔️ (@TiwaSavage) May 31, 2020

#WeAreTired of saying the same thing our parents, grand parents, great grand parents have been saying about Nigeria

— Tiwa Savage ⚔️ (@TiwaSavage) May 31, 2020

Falz

On his part, Falz said it is time Nigerians took the bull by the horn beyond online protests to prevent cases like this from occurring in the future.

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

It is important that we are fearless and we are ready to challenge the government through peaceful protests. It’s not enough to sit in our houses and post on socials. Justice must be served #JusticeForUwa #JusticeForTina

— Bop Daddy (@falzthebahdguy) May 31, 2020

Djinee

Singer and songwriter Djinee spoke of being fed up of the violence against women in the country. He said his friend was gang raped years ago and was infected with HIV.

Today it is Uwa. Y'day it was someone else. 2moro it might be som1 we know. A friend who was gangraped in the past is living with HIV today. There is no way Uwa's sad incident won't bring up the fact that our women are an endangered gender. You cant isolate crime from culture.

— DJINEE (@DJINEE) May 31, 2020

Adekunle Gold

According to Adekunle Gold, the girls’ deaths were indicative of the dawn of  “a senseless generation” enabled by the society and failure of governance.

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 My heart bleeds. Uwa and Tina’s lives have been cut short because we’ve raised and enabled a generation of men who believe women should be exploited not protected. We’ve enabled powerdrunk senseless men with uniforms and weapons. We are not allowed to sit down there and say “not all men” fuck that! All men are responsible. Your brother’s heart is desperately wicked and you have enabled it, wether in catcalling or in objectification. We have enabled it. Not waiting on the government to do anything, don’t want to set myself up for further disappointment. I pray we raise better sons and enable better men.
 
A post shared by  AG BABY IS YOUR BABY (@adekunlegold) on Jun 1, 2020 at 12:03am PDT