By Uzair Adam Imam
In an effort to put the menace of raping to an end, the Jigawa State government has on Wednesday approved the death penalty for child rapists in the state.
The Commissioner for Justice and the Attorney General, Dr Musa Adamu, made the announcement at a press briefing.
Sexual assault is one of the issues that linger for a long time in the country that need to be addressed.
Adamu disclosed that anyone convicted of raping a child below the age of 10 would be sentenced to death with no option.
“A total number of 196 case diaries while 178 pieces of legal advice were prepared in respect of the case diaries received. Earlier this year, Governor Mohammed Badaru Abubakar signed the Violence Against Prohibition Bill, which prescribed the death penalty for rapists but with the option of life imprisonment.
“But recently, the government has also signed the child protection law, which prescribed the death penalty for anyone that raped a child below the age of 10.
“Out of the total number of the case diaries, 90 were rape cases; 27 culpable homicides; sodomy has 31; kidnapping and abduction have a total number of 18 cases; incest two; two 2 acts of gross indecency; 20 armed robberies while road traffic offences have two cases.
“The ministry has prosecuted and defended a total number of 25 appeals before the Court of Appeal, Kano Division and has also completed the prosecution of 83 criminal trials before eight High Courts at Birnin Kudu, Dutse, Gumel Hadejia, Kazaure and Ringim. 34 convictions and 49 defendants were discharged and acquitted.”
