Nigeria’s House of Representatives reject castration as punishment for rapists
Nigeria’s House of Representatives has rejected castration as punishment for rapists.
The house on Thursday, June 4, deliberated on measures to curb the increasing numbers of rape cases in the country, the recent one being 18-year-old Barakat Bello.
I would like to offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Uwaila Omozuwa. I expect the Nigeria Police Force to speedily and diligently investigate this case and ensure that all the culprits responsible for this barbaric act are brought to justice.
— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) June 2, 2020
Speaking on the floor of the House, Lagos State governor, Abiodun James Faleke, suggested castration as punishment for rapists.
His submission was shot down by speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, who questioned how the punishment will be meted out in a situation where a female is a culprit.
Even though the lawmakers could not reach a compromise on what the punishment for rapists should be, they all called for stiffer penalties against persons found guilty of rape, lindaikejisblog reported.
We saw the horrible story of a 12 yr old girl who was raped by 11 men. Her name is Farishina. I spoke to her and her mum to find out how we can help.
We can’t change what’s happened, but we can try to make the rest of her life better. Please donate: https://t.co/7li7OeZDKE pic.twitter.com/WrbTzs2TYh
— FK. (@fkabudu) June 2, 2020
BACKGROUND
Uwaila Omozuwa, a 22-year-old first-year student of the University of Benin, was on May 27, raped and fatally wounded while reading inside Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) parish.
She died three days later, the same day that the Jigawa State Police Command announced the arrest of 11 men who had, at different times and on many occasions, allegedly raped a 12-year-old girl.
18-year-old Barakat Bello was found raped and stabbed to death at the back of her house in Akinyele area of Ibadan on Monday, June 1, 2020.
We couldn’t gather as one to protest because of social distancing. But we all did our bits to be heard. I did mine; A One Woman protest on Ikoyi link bridge. Even though we got kicked off the bridge because this “wasn’t allowed” we would not be silenced#JusticeForUwa#WeAreTired pic.twitter.com/pUEYtV0aGG
— Jellybum (JB of Lagos) (@oluwapelumi_ii) June 1, 2020