In a trending video which surfaced on Sunday 23rd January, thugs believed to be from Borno Lawmaker Satomi Ahmed, were captured as they beat up a lady called Fadila Abdulrahman.
According to a report done by Punch, the youths slapped and beat Ms. Abdulrahman up because of a Facebook post where she criticised Satomi Ahmed.
They also swore at her, ordering that she must beg and prostrate before Satomi Ahmed as she asked for his forgiveness.
The Commissioner of Police Borno Command Abdu Umar, held a briefing where he stated that the four suspects have been arrested and are currently in police custody.
While it is commendable that the perpetrators have been apprehended by the right authorities, the normalisation of violence against women by lawmakers is however not new to Fadila Abdulrahman’s case.
In July 2019, Sahara Reporters published an article detailing how Human Rights Groups were demanding the arrest of Senator Elisha Abbo for slapping a woman in a sex toy shop.
Although the Senate did begin an investigation into the matter according to a report by Vanguard Nigeria, it is important to note that Senator Elisha Abbo was awarded in December 2019, barely five months after. The award was that of a “Beacon of Hope” and was granted to him during the 4th edition of the Adamawa Celebrities and Achievers Award according to an article by Pulse Nigeria.
When grown women are assaulted by lawmakers in Nigeria, it not only begs the question of what kind of ethics determine the making and implementation of laws in Nigeria.
It also begs the question of the extent to which the murder of young girls like Hanifa Abubakar by ordinary men, will be given seriousness by lawmakers and all concerned bodies.
It is however important that women in Nigeria continue to exercise all our hardwon political freedoms.
One of such remains the right to criticise and condemn politicians whose acts do not serve our interests not just as Nigerians, but also as Nigerian women.