As the number of rape cases in Nigeria continues to rise, the Lagos State House of Assembly has called for strict implementation of rape laws, acceleration of rape cases in courts, cancellation of stigmatisation of rape victims and punishment of rapists.
These followed the House of Assembly motion moved by Mojisola Alli-Macaulay (Amuwo Odofin Constituency 1) along with 12 others during plenary on Monday. The motion entitled “Need To Curb The Incident of Rape, Defilement of Minors and Other Sexual Abuses.”
“The House notes the alarming rate of domestic violence, rape, defilement of minor and other sexual abuses, particularly Lagos State.
“We further note that some victims of sexual assault who were either children of less than twelve years, adult or aged female are left with their fate in the society while the culprits moved freely without fear of being apprehended and prosecuted,” the motion read.
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Macaulay stated that the House was disturbed by the catalogues of sexual abuse cases reported daily in the media and the reactions of Civil Society Organisations (CSO), but concerned by the ordeals of victims of rape and related cases, which include emotional trauma, shame, Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) and committing suicide for fear of social stigmatisation.
She said the House was disturbed by the weak enforcement of related laws, lack of education on how victims of the heinous act can seek redress, and mistreatment of rape cases, among others, stressing that it was creating an environment where sexual abuse was perpetrated with impunity.
The House then called on Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu to direct the judiciary to ensure that perpetrators of any form of rape and defilement of minors were prosecuted speedily and in line with extant laws of the state.
Sanwo-Olu was also ordered to direct the commissioner for women affairs, poverty alleviation and job creation to ensure that the rights of every victim of sexual assault were protected through the domestic violence agencies in the state.
“The Domestic And Sexual Violence Response Team in Lagos State and other relevant Agencies to adopt whistle blowing mechanism in the fight against domestic violence, especially rape and defilement of minors.
“The Commissioner for Information and Strategy to intensify efforts on the campaign against sexual abuses and sensitise members of the public to report any form of sexual assault to the appropriate authority in the state and the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command to ensure that offenders of domestic violence, including rape and defilement of minors are made to face full weight if the law,” the motion said.
Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, stated that the state did not have to wait till someone was raped before action was taken, saying the motion was meant to prevent rape either among adult or young ones, males and females.
According to Obasa, “We should look at morals. What are our religious institutions preaching? Most times, people are particular about survival than the welfare of our children.
“The laws and the prosecution have always been there. We need to look inward. What are the reasons and what are the things we need to do. How many of the cases are being reported, how many will the police handle. How can a three month or there year old child be left alone by her mother.
“We should question the psychological aspect of the matter. The judiciary should be called upon to accelerate any case that has to do with rape.”
In his contributions, Rotimi Olowo (Shomolu 1) stated that the issue of rape was becoming a pandemic and that it was even more dangerous than COVID-19.
Olowo, who later recommended castration for rapists, said parents, who conceal facts about rape should be punished, noting, “Our laws are not effectively implemented and a lot of rape victims later end up committing suicide.
“Our police are not well trained; some of them even collect bribes. Ladies should dress well and avoid some areas at night.
“There should be dedicated courts like tribunals to try such cases. Lagos State Electricity Board should also provide electricity in strategic areas at night.”
Abiodun Tobun (Epe 1) said in his contributions that the act of rape was condemnable generally.
He wondered why a man in his right senses would rape when he could go to commercial sex workers to satisfy his urge.
“Those who rape should be dealt with. Those who do it should be exposed to the whole world so that they could be dehumanized and stigmatized, and there should be a national book on rape. We should educate our people not to force their lovers into sex, and concealment is also a crime,” he stated.
Also speaking, Gbolahan Yishawu (Eti-Osa 2) said there were statues that deal with rape decisively and that rape was a heinous crime.
Yishawu added that rape must be tackled with all the fibre in someone’s body and that parents should not put their children in harm.
In his view, the Majority Leader of the House, Sanai Agunbiade recalled that the House had amended the Lagos State Criminal Law to make rape attract life sentence.
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