13 rape victims now positive-Obi

August 30, 2007 :: ThisDay,Lagos

Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State, yesterday said 13 of the secondary school girls raped by miscreants are now HIV positive.

Obi, who spoke at the launch of the state's maiden work plan yesterday in Awka, said, "one of victim is a 13-year-old girl."

He deplored the rapists for destroying innocent and promising school girls and pledged to do everything possible to halt such irresponsible persons from further acts.

He traced the problem to lack of potable water, as the rapists usually pounce on their victims on their way to fetch water. These young girls usually fall victim to these sex poachers on their way to fetch water," he said.

The work plan for the state from September to December include provision of drinkable water to all schools, Obi said, and directed that boreholes be sunk in all girls secondary schools in the state before the end of December.

He directed that generating sets be installed in 40 secondary schools, with priority given to girls' schools to enhance

security. The governor also ordered for theprovision of science laboratoriesas well as ten computers in all the secondary schools.Obi said the rehabilitation of aclassroom blocks in each of the100 secondary schools wouldbe in partnership with the hostcommunities and stakeholders.