Gov. Bala’s Mive To End Rape Cases In Bauchi State -By Abdullahi Rufa’i Adamu

Rape is a social menace which is becoming rampant in our society today. It is described as an act of sexual intercourse with an individual without his or her consent. 

In recent days, rape cases are skyrocketing in Bauchi state which most of the victims are underage children, and those who happen to be from underprivileged families constitute the larger percentage of the victims. They usually live a vulnerable and insignificant life in the society after the incident. 

A couple of weeks ago, a 50-year-old man, Yusuf Bako, was arrested by the police for allegedly raping a four-year-old girl, Hauwa’u Jamilu, inside a Mosque at Aminu street, Bauchi. On 20 September, 2020, another 60-year-old man, Muhammad Dahiru was arrested by the police in Bauchi for allegedly raping a five-year-old girl in an uncompleted building where he threatened to slaughter her if she had disclosed his identity. 

In order to address the challenges on the issue, the Executive Governor of Bauchi state, Sen. Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed said that the state may consider castration as penalty for the rapists. 

The Governor spoke when he received the honourable Minister of Women Affairs and Child Development, Mrs Pauline Tallen on advocacy visit at the Government House on 23 September, 2020. 

Governor Bala ruled that stiffer penalty for rapists will reduce the prevalence of the rape cases in the state, and the government will consider the amendment of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law to include stiffer penalty in the implementation of the law.
Without prejudice, I must commend the proactiveness of the governor towards ensuring this evil act is curtailed. These people are demons in human structure who should not be spared. In fact, their existence on Earth is a calamity.

Your excellency, there is a possibility in which after the surgical castration, the rapist may find other ways to satisfy their need using the children. They are menace to all children. Therefore, surgical castration should not only be the penalty for the rapist. 

Your excellency sir, at this juncture, according to “Section 39 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria” which guarantees freedom of expression as a fundamental right to the citizens, I suggest that surgical castration should not only be the penalty for the rapist but life imprisonment should also be considered. That will drastically reduce the rate of the cases, also, the bad and heinous would go into their consciousness. 

In addition, religious and traditional leaders should be engaged to raise awareness of this dastardly and animalistic act in the society. 

I finally recommend those indulged in this devilish act, be arraigned to face the fullest wrath of the law in order to serve as a deterrent to others.  

Abdullahi Rufa’i Adamu
rufaiabdullahiadamu@gmail.com