NHRC demands immediate persecution of suspected rapists

Worried by the increasing number of rape cases in the country, the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, has called for the immediate persecution of suspected rapists.

The call was made today, Wednesday June 17 by the NHRC, during a protest in Lokoja, Kogi State.

Kogi State Coordinator of NHRC, Barrister Nuhu Musa Mohammed, who described the spate of reported rape cases as worrisome, warned that, if not addressed, the country would be heading for doom.

Our Kogi State Correspondent reports that Barrister Mohammed, led his team and some Non-Governmental Organizations, on a protest to Kogi State Police Command, Ministry of Women Affairs, Governor’s Wife Office, Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Information.

The NGOs included: Kogi Non-Governmental Organization, KONGONET, Initiative for Grassroots Advancement, INGRA, Participation Initiative for Behavioural Change in Development, PIBCID and Challenge Parenthood Initiative, CPI.

The protesters who carried placards with inscriptions, condemning rape, described rape as a societal menace, which should be condemned by all and sundry, noting that the protest held  simultaneously in all the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory.

At the police headquarters, Barrister Mohammed, said the agency was ready to collaborate with the Nigerian Police to end rape cases.

Responding, the Kogi State Commissioner of Police, CP Ayuba Edeh, stressed that in the last few months, police received 717 reported rape cases nationwide.

While disclosing that there are many case files on his table bothering on rape, the CP noted that the command under his watch, had prosecuted many rape offenders, with many currently cooling off in jail.

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