House of reps rejects castration as punishment for rapists

The house of representatives has rejected castration of persons convicted of rape.

At Thursday’s plenary session, the lawmakers voted against castration as punishment for rapists as suggested by James Faleke from Lagos state.

They were debating a motion on the increased sexual violence against women particularly the rape and murder of two girls in Oyo and Edo states recently.

Barakat Bello, an 18-year-old girl, was reportedly raped at her father’s home in Ibadan, while Vera Omozuwa, a student of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), was raped while reading inside a parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

Debating the motion brought forward by Rotimi Agunsoye from Lagos, the lawmakers condemned the increasing cases of rape in the country which they described as the most common form of violence against women.

They identified “weak institutions, poor enforcement, poverty and unacceptable social practices” as part of the reasons for sexual violence against women.

They said in addition to the rape cases, Nigerian women also suffer harassment and brutality in the hands of security agencies.

Although the lawmakers voted against castration of rapists as an amendment to the motion, the lawmakers called for stiffer penalties against persons found guilty of rape.

They also asked the federal government to launch a more effective campaign against rape and other forms of sexual violence against women.