As reported rape cases spread like epidemic across Nigeria, Kaduna State House of Assembly has okayed castration as punishment for anyone convicted of the crime in the state.
This follows the passage of a bill to amend the Kaduna State Penal Court Law, 2017, by the lawmakers during Thursday’s plenary.
The assembly, which announced the development via its Twitter handle on Thursday, said the bill was passed into law on Wednesday.
The majority leader of the assembly, Haruna M A Inuwa tweeted about the development on his official twitter handle.
“A bill to amend the Kaduna State Penal Court Law No.5 of 2017 has yesterday 09/09/2020 been pass into Law by@Kadlegislature.
The Bill Recommend total Castration for Rapist in the State,” the tweet read
Governor Nasir el-Rufai had in July said the justice system of the state would no longer grant bail to rapists.
El-Rufai stated this when a group of women, advocating for justice for rape victims, staged a peaceful rally at the government house in Kaduna, on Monday.
The governor, who noted that the state already has strong legislation against rape, added that his government is already considering an amendment to the law to include the castration of persons convicted of the crime.
“I am happy that our chief judge has decided to take that very seriously,” el-Rufai said.
“We are also working on that and we know that this epidemic of rape and issues related to rape will be a thing of the past.
“It is 21 years for rape of an adult and life imprisonment for the rape (defilement) of a child.”
