Nigeria: Senators Seek Life Imprisonment for Rapists

Abuja — THE Senate, yesterday, called for stiffer punishment like life imprisonment for perpetrators of sexual assault in the country.

Some Senators also canvassed for capital punishment in the Sexual Offence Bill sponsored by Senator Chris Anyanwu, which passed the second reading.

Senator Anyanwu, APGA, Imo had in her lead debate, said her bill chronicled incidents of high rate of immorality in the society and demanded the creation of a unit within the Nigerian Police Force where trained professionals would ensure the preservation of the rights of humanity.

She noted that sex tourism has been on the increase in the country and that it was imperative to create a unit in the Nigeria Police Force to handle such cases with good training, as she alleged that most times victims that take their matter to the police are always ridiculed by the police officers handling the matter.

She further said that the bill makes provision for those who make false allegations or accusations of rape as it touches on fundamental human rights and human dignity and urged the senate to support the passage of the law to save the womanhood.

According to her, there were punishments stipulated in the penal code of states in the federation but said that deficiency in extant laws was being corrected in her bill including protection of witnesses and stigma of victims.

She said the establishment of a section of the police force manned by well trained investigators who will handle the matters with passion, would reduce rape incidents to its barest minimum.