Nasir Ahmed el-Rufai, the governor of Nigeria’s north-western state, Kaduna has signed into law a measure introducing tough penalties for convicted rapists.
The law says those convicted of raping a child below the age of 14 should be surgically castrated and given the death sentence.
Where the victim is over 14 years, the law provides for surgical castration and life imprisonment.
Female adults convicted of raping a child will face bilateral salpingectomy (removal of fallopian tubes) and death.
In rape cases where the victim is under the age of 14, a medical report will be necessary to corroborate the allegations.
Child rapists will also be listed on a sex offenders’ register to be published in the media.
This law which has been signed by the governor will go a long way in checking the growing rate of reported rape cases in Kaduna State