Women and Child rights activist, Professor Patricia Dnoli, yesterday in Maiduguri advocated castration as the punishment for rapists.
Expressing worry over the alarming rate of rape in Borno State, she said imposition of fines on those found guilty of rape was not enough deterrent.
“We are greatly concerned about issues of rape. There are serial rapists around and the only way to protect people is physical castration.
“If you jail them for seven years, after they come out, they would still commit the same offence. So there should not be option of fine for any rapist,” Prof. Dnoli said.
She noted that in 2019 alone no fewer than 300 cases of rape and incest were recorded in the state, describing the figure as very alarming rate.
Prof. Dnoli was speaking during the launching of a campaign with a theme: “I Stand With Women Peace Builders” organised by NEEM Foundation.
“We were just told by the police that 300 rape cases were reported last year, with the deputy commissioner of police telling us that last week alone six cases were reported. A lot goes unreported, it is alarming..
“Recently Borno State House Assembly proposed death penalty for those who rape minors, and 21 years imprisonment or fine for raping adults,’’ she said.
She said rich persons could pay fines of even N500, 000 to commit as many rapes as they desire, adding that, “there should not be options of fines for rapists.”
“You see, when you leave a rapist with just paying fines, they would still do it again because it is about mindset.’’
In her remarks, the Programme Officer of NEEM Foundation, Minoe Dlamwan, said the campaign was aimed at supporting the reintegration of women and girls into communities affected by insurgency.
