Prevalence rate of rape in recent times is alarming,this has drawn the attention of Adamawa central Senator,Engr Ashaitu Ahmed Dahiru Binani where in a consultative meeting aimed at sensitizing and enlightening the public she vowed to expose rapists in their communities
The meeting which will soon come on board in the Central Senatorial zone of the state comprises of all the traditional rulers, opinion molders, heads of religious bodies, youth and women groups for the purposes of enlightenment on the evils of rape in the society.
“This awareness is very, very important especially on the need for parents to expose those rapists in their midst no matter how close they are, even if they are members within their family, by the time we hold these sensitization and awareness campaign things would change, rapists would no longer have a place to hide”. She added
She described the trend as alarming and pathetic, noted that with interventions by various stakeholders, and measures put in place, the country will get to the root causes of rape and stamp it out in the society.
Senator Binani who was impressed with the activities of all bodies that are standing against the rapists particularly the Adamawa Coalition Against Rape, stressed the need for a well-meaning individual and the government to support them, adding that it is a collective fight, as it affects everybody and family negatively.
“I want to commend all the bodies that are standing against these rapists, not only in Adamawa but throughout the country, specifically for Adamawa they are doing well and I commend them, but their effort need to be supported by well-meaning individuals because there has to be a collective fight, well-meaning individual and the government, it is only when this is done we will achieve full success in stamping out the monsters called rapists in our society”.Binani averred
She added that the Senate will look at existing laws that stipulate punishment for rapists with a view to amending it where necessary so as to provide stiffer penalty and checkmate the high rate of rape cases in Nigeria.
The lawmaker explained that the Senate had already deliberated on the issue following a motion to that effect and members unanimously condemned the trend in the country and urged the law enforcement agencies to ensure that cases of rape are dealt with as stipulated by law.
“The senate has deliberated on the issue following a motion move by a colleague and unanimously condemned the trend in the country and urged the law enforcement agencies to be up and doing in dealing with reported cases of rape as stipulated in the books of law.
“Sometimes a rape case will be reported to the law enforcement agencies and the case will be treated carelessly, so there is a resolution to that effect and also we intend to look deeply into such laws where we find them inadequate we will initiate a review in order to make for a stiffer penalty”. Binani said
She expressed concern that sometimes law enforcement agencies handle rape cases with laxity and called on the general public to stand up together to support the campaign against rapists in society by using every available means.
