The Nigerian Government says it will henceforth take decisive action against rapists describing the upsurge as embarrassing to the country.
It also decided to push for the domestication of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPPA) 2015 in the 36 states in order to ensure that rapists face deserved punishments for their actions.
The VAPPA law is only applicable in the Federal Capital Territory as it does not apply in the other states of the Federation just like the Child Rights Act.
These decisions were taken at the weekly Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari, following a memo presented by the Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen.
This has been nationwide outrage over the increasing cases of rape and gender-based violence in the country as a result of lockdown necessitated by the outbreak of Coronavirus.
The outrage was ignited by the death of 22-year-old microbiology student of the University of Benin, Vera Uwaila Omozuwa who was raped and killed in an empty church in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
Following almost immediately was the case of 18-year old Barakat Bello who was also raped and macheted to death while taking her bath in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
No fewer than 80 rape cases were recorded in various parts of Anambra State during the Covid-19 lockdown between April and May.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
