Disturbed by the increasing spate of rape cases, the Niger State House of Assembly has proposed a bill for an Act that will provide the death penalty for rape and other sexual offenses.
The House also proposed that the death penalty be particularly effective when the victim of rape dies.
This follows a motion by Hon. Binta Mamman Representing Gurara Constituency on the matter.
Recalling the case of late Uwa, a university student that was raped and killed in the church in Edo State, and in Niger State the two girls raped by their father for 10 years as well as the 85-year old woman among others, she said it was unacceptable to allow offenders go free.
“Rape is unacceptable, it is highly degrading and most times the perpetrators getting away with it due to pending cases in the courts. And, to make matters worst, victims of rape don’t report to avoid stigmatisation.
“That is why measures must be taken to stop it by setting up Courts to trail Rape and other Sexual Assault cases. I urge you, my colleagues to help address this challenge,” Mamman stated.
Supporting the motion, the members condemned the dangerous turn rape has taken in the county while calling for strong punishment against perpetrators.
They likened rape to a pandemic worst than the present novel Coronavirus ravaging the people across the globe, recalling the story of a man that raped 40 women.
Decrying the rising cases of rape in the state, Hon. Ahmed Bello for Agwara Constituency called on the Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani Bello to come up with a riot Act against the menace that is ravaging the society.
“That is why, we need to invite the state Commissioner of Police, Commissioner of Justice or a Representative to tell us their challenges at an Executive Session. So, that we can all come together to fight it holistically. It is a serious issue.
Shuiabu Mohammed, Suleja Constituency, however, attributed the issue of rape to decay in moral values of the society and lack of enforcement of the relevant laws against rape in the country.
“The issue of rape goes down to decay in our moral values and among our leaders such as political leaders, religious leaders, and traditional leaders that are supposed to set a good example to us. And, people tend to be more afraid of the traditional laws on rape than conventional laws. In the past, when there is a taboo placed on a thing, people tend to fear to commit an offense in that regard.”
Also, Idris from Lapai constituency said rape is currently a burning issue that must be given the desired attention.
Reading the resolution of the House, the Speaker Hon. Bawa directed the Assembly Committee on Justice to liaise with relevant bodies to come up with a section of law to punish perpetrators of rape.
Bar. Wuse called on the State Government through the Ministry for Women Affairs to embark on the sensitization of people against the stigmatization of victims of rape.
The lawmakers then urged the state Chief Justice to designate some Courts to try rape cases to ensure speedy trial of offenders of rape.
