KSHA Supports Castration as Penalty for Rapists

The Kaduna State House of Assembly on Friday approved castration as punishment for anybody convicted for rape in the state.

This action is not unconnected to the amendment of the State Penal Code (No.5), law of 2017 which stipulates stiffer penalties for rapists in the state as part of the effort to protect women and children against any form of gender violence.

Musa Ahmed, the spokesman of the House said bluntly “Anyone convicted of rape will have his organ surgically removed so that even upon completion of his jail term, will not be able to commit the crime again”

And in addition, Ahmed said the new law entails 21 years imprisonment for the rape of an adult and life imprisonment for the rape of a minor.

It would be recalled that during a public hearing on the Bill seeking the amendment of the penal code last month, the wife of the Kaduna state Governor, Ummi El-Rufai had proposed either castration or death sentence for rapists, even as she described such act as a gross violation of the rights of women and children.

Umai was worried about the alarming number of rape incidences in the state about an average of five rape cases especially minors are recorded in Kaduna State on daily basis. This may have greatly influenced her submission that only severe penalties for rapists in the state penal code will serve as a deterrent to others.