Minister laments high incidence of rape, says 3,600 cases recorded during lockdown

The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Senator Pauline Tallen, has lamented the upsurge in rape cases across the country.

The minister stated this when she paid a courtesy call on the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja, adding that no fewer than 3,600 cases of rape were recorded during the lockdown.

A statement on Monday from the media office of the Deputy Senate President, quoted Tallen as saying: “Reports that we received from commissioners of women affairs across the 36 states of the federation revealed that each state recorded at least 100 rape cases during the Covid-19 induced lockdown.”

Read also: Police arrest robbers who raided Anambra hotel, raped two ladies

Tallen was qouted to have also commended Omo-Agege for sponsoring the sexual harassment bill, which was passed in the Senate last week, while also applauding the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) for declaring a state of emergency on sexual and gender-based violence.

She however called for more legislation to protect the girl-child and women.

In his response, Omo-Agege explained that the approval of the Sexual Harassment Bill was in furtherance of the legislative agenda of the 9th Senate to protect women’s rights.

He said: “The proposed law will not only send a strong signal to those who may want to abuse women but ensure that students were not at the mercy of sexual predators.”

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