Some 717 rape cases were recorded in Nigeria between January and May 2020, the Inspector-General of Police, Adamu Muhammad, has revealed.
Speaking to State House correspondents, Adamu Muhammad stated that the Federal Government is putting up efforts towards fighting against rape and gender-based violence in the country.
He said: “We are here to brief you on sexual and gender-based violence and the action that the government has been taking, particularly the Nigeria Police.
“It has come to the public knowledge now that because of the COVID-19 restrictions, we have a surge in cases of rape and gender-based violence.
“These are cases that are now coming up but we want to let members of the public know that rape and gender-based violence have been there.
“The law enforcement agents have been dealing with these cases, in most cases, members of the public are not aware of the actions that the law enforcement agents have been taking.
“The Nigeria Police, so far from January-May 2020, we have recorded about 717 rape incidents that were reported across the country, about 799 suspects have been arrested, 631 cases conclusively investigated and charged to court and 52 cases are left and under investigation.
“The police and other security agencies and other non-governmental organisations have been collaborating, to see to it that these cases of rape and gender based violence are dealt with.
“The NGOs and CSOs that have the capacity to deal with this kind of offenses, have been cooperating with law enforcement agencies in capacity building, management of victims of rape and similar offenses and procedures for collecting evidence, towards successful prosecution.
“The government has taken the matter to another level now because of the scourge we have noticed.
“I will call on every Nigerian that has or comes across any victim of sexual offenses or rape or gender-based violence, to quickly report to law enforcement agents.
“Because keeping it without reporting it will give room for the perpetrators to continue to commit the offenses.
“It is a very wicked offense, it is a very serious offense, it is very wicked of an individual to engage in rape or defilement.
“And there are a lot of causes, some are doing it for ritual purposes, some are doing it because they are within the family and they see the victims and have the urge to go into it and do it.
“But such people should not be allowed to go free.
“I am just to inform you that the government is doing something about it and you can see me with the Ministers of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed and Women Affairs Development, Pauline Tallen.
“From now, a national partnership with every stakeholder is what we are going into now and not only within the country but within the sub-region.
“We have to partner with organisations that are involved in this.
“We know we have been working seriously with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and other civil society organisations.
“So, it is just to tell you that the government is doing something seriously to curtail this type of offense.”