Senate seeks stiffer punishment for rapists

The senate has asked the relevant law enforcement agencies to administer stiffer punishment to sex offenders.

The upper legislative chamber also called for the enforcement of laws that protect the girl child from abuse.

The resolutions of the senate were sequel to a motion sponsored by Sandy Onuh, senator representing Cross River central.

While moving a motion on the floor of the senate on Tuesday, Onuh said if nothing is done to check the increased trend of rape in the country, the menace could get out of control and this would in turn hinder the country’s growth.

Biodun Olujimi, senator representing Ekiti south, said security agencies should take the issue of rape seriously.

“We have been speaking much and nothing much has been done about it. We didn’t imagine we will go the way of India where rape will become the rape of the people,” Olujimi said.

“If the security agents do not take it seriously… We are dealing with one in my state and it was perpetrated by a man in office by someone he took in as a help. He raped and impregnated her.”

The motion was informed by the case of Vera Uwaila Omozuwa, a 100-level microbiology student of the University of Benin.

There was also reference to the plight of the girl child, and the case of Tina, a 16-year-old girl, was highlighted.

While Tina was hit by a stray bullet, Omozuwa died after she was raped and beaten up inside a parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) near Ikpoba Hill in Benin, Edo state.

The motion was adopted after it was put to a voice vote by Senate President Ahmad Lawan.