A governor in Nigeria’s north has signed a law that approves the castration of child rapists.
Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State on Wednesday signed the State Penal Code (Amendment) Law 2020, which provides stiff penalty for rapists.
The law provides surgical castration and removal of fallopian tubes for male and female convicts respectively upon conviction of raping a child below the age of 14.
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.
The principal law, the Penal Code Law No. 5 of Kaduna State 2017, was amended by substituting Section 258, to now provide that, “whoever commits rape of a child below the age of fourteen (14) years shall on conviction, be punished with Surgical Castration and death.
“Whoever has sexual intercourse with a male child below the age of fourteen years shall be punished with surgical castration and death.
“Where a female adult is convicted for the offence of rape of a child, the Court shall punish the accused with Bilateral Salpingectomy and death.
“Where the victim is above fourteen years, the Court shall on conviction sentence the accused with a punishment of surgical castration and life imprisonment.
“Where the convict is a child, the Court shall order as appropriate under the Children and Young Person Law Cap 26 Laws of Kaduna State 1991.
“Where the victim is a child, the Court shall in addition to the conviction, order that the convict be listed in the Sex Offenders Register to be published by the Attorney General.
“Where the Court is trying the offence of rape involving a child below the age of fourteen years, corroboration of a medical report shall be necessary.”
Kaduna is the only state in Nigeria with such legal provisions on rape.
There has been a growing public outcry over rape across Nigeria in recent months. Although there have been numerous arrests, the number of convictions is believed to be low.