Police arrest 799 for sexual offences as FIDA canvasses gender desks

Actionaid laments rising cases, group seeks law against abuse of elders

INSPECTOR General of Police ( IGP), Mohammed Adamu, yesterday disclosed that the police arrested 799 rape suspects in 717 incidents between January and May this year, stressing that the authorities are determined to tame rape cases across the country.

The IGP, who spoke with journalists after a meeting with President Mohammadu Buhari, disclosed that 631 of the cases had been concluded and charged to court, while 52 were still being investigated.

Adamu, however, attributed

the surge in rape cases and other gender- based violence to the COVID- 19 restrictions, insisting that the police was determined to partner with other security agencies and non- governmental organisations to end the menace.

While restating that government was poised to curtail the menace, he urged Nigerians to report sex- related offenses to law enforcement agents, noting that keeping silent would not augur well, as perpetrators would continue committing the crime.

Besides, Lagos State chapter of the International Federation of Women Lawyers ( FIDA) has canvassed the setting up of gender desk in police stations or posts to curb the increase of sexual and gender- based violence ( GBV) in Nigeria.

It said such desks should be manned by well- trained personnel for cases of sexual and gender- based violence and urged government to provide free medical treatment ( including psycho- analysis and psycho- social support) for victims of rape, defilement and other gender- based violence.

FIDA Chairperson in Lagos State, Mrs. Philomena Nneji, who made the group’s position known, called on governments to declare a state of emergency on rape and other gender- based violence in the country.

Also, Actionaid lamented the rising cases of rape, saying over 299 incidents of gender- based violence were recorded between April and June 2020 in six states of the federation.

MEANWHILE, as the world marks the Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the Centre for Gender Economics ( CGE) stressed the need for government to strengthen laws against abuse of the elderly in Nigeria.

Specifically, the group advocated that all concerned Nigerian citizens should work to end elders’ abuse and promote their rights and privileges.