Kaduna approves castration as punishment for rapists
The Kaduna State House of Assembly (KHSA) has approved castration as punishment for those convicted of rape.
The majority leader of the assembly announced the development on Twitter on Thursday, September 10.
He wrote,“A bill to amend the Kaduna State Penal Court Law No.5 of 2017 has yesterday 09/09/2020 been pass into Law by @Kadlegislature. The Bill Recommend total Castration for Rapist in the State.”
Currently, the state penal law provides for 21 years of imprisonment for rape of an adult and life imprisonment in the case of a child.
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It is not immediately clear if there are provisions against female rapists in the new bill.
It was passed about two months after Governor Nasir El-Rufai advocated a stiff punishment for rapists. The governor had noted that convicts often rape more persons after serving their jail term.
He had also said the state would expunge the provision for bail conditions for rape convicts.
In June, Daily Times had reported that the House of Representatives voted against a motion seeking castration as a punishment for rapists.
In a motion moved by James Faleke, he recommended that persons found guilty of rape should be castrated. The House adopted the motion condemning sexual violence, but rejected his prayer on castration for rapists.
The prayer generated controversies, which lasted for about two hours.
House Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila then asked to know what would happen to an older female who raped a younger male, before subjecting the prayer to a voice vote. The nays had it.
Yet, the lawmakers called for stiffer penalties against persons found guilty of rape.
