Chima Azubuike, Gombe
Gombe state government has said it won’t mind punitive punishment for rapists and perpetrators of other social vices in the state.
According to the Secretary to the State Government Prof. Ibrahim Njodi, the issue of rape and other social vices have gone past rhetorics to a point of action.
He disclosed this on Tuesday in Gombe, when he received Youth advocacy group.
He said the executive has been in steady talks with the state legislators on how best to curb rape in the society adding that the Inuwa Yahaya administration places premium to human life.
He said, “The issue is not just about talking from the gallery we must take the bull by the horn. The major concern now is rape, we have been talking with our state legislators to see if we can bring a law. We have done the one for kidnapping, we are trying to see if we can package everything together.
“The governor is so serious that once the State Assembly say death sentence for any culprit of kidnapping, he will give approval to go and kill the man. We don’t see why if someone is kidnapping and the other is raping, to me they are the same they are on the same pedestal. So if you can pass a death sentence on someone who has kidnapped, I think we can do the same for someone who has raped.
“By calling their names, it may deter but it will not be as serious as death sentence.”
Speaking earlier, the Project manager, coalition for the eradication of social vices among youth, Jacob Kelvin urged the Gombe state government to mention perpetrators of rape to serve as deterrent to others.
“In every 4 women, 1 out of this 4 has been sexually abused before the age of 18. 1 out of this 4 has been sexually abused repeatedly before 24 years, 5.0 % have sought help but 3.5 were able to get help,” he said.
He added that stop the rape culture campaign in Gombe state will mitigate rape prevalence in the state.
Among dignitaries present at the courtesy visit are Special Adviser to the governor on Drugs and Narcotics, staff officers and many others.