L
LequteMan
Guest
A human rights activist, Mrs Adenike Ibitara, on Wednesday said National Conference’s recommendation of death penalty for persons guilty of rape of minors would not stop the crime.
Ibitara, who is the Head, Human Rights Unit, Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan.
“I doubt if death sentence will prevent the crime of rape, especially as it has not stopped armed robbery, which the law says should be punished with death,” she said.
She said that instead of focusing on punishment for the offence, the weak processes of apprehending offenders should be strengthened.
According to her, rapists get away with the crime because it is still very difficult to prove a rape case in the country.
“Victims are rarely interested in pursuing the case, probably because of the stigmatisation attached and the monetary involvement of settling medical bills.
“Before the crime is reported, evidences are erased as the victim must have had her bath, and again, family members hardly support the crime being reported to the police.
“At the end, rapists get away scot-free and it is who you apprehend that you will sentence,” she said.
Ibatara therefore called for improvement of medical investigation to help solve rape cases.
“The DNA of the semen sample and other related evidences can be resolved through medical investigation, but unfortunately, we still have a long way to go on this,” she said.
Ibitara, who is the Head, Human Rights Unit, Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan.
“I doubt if death sentence will prevent the crime of rape, especially as it has not stopped armed robbery, which the law says should be punished with death,” she said.
She said that instead of focusing on punishment for the offence, the weak processes of apprehending offenders should be strengthened.
According to her, rapists get away with the crime because it is still very difficult to prove a rape case in the country.
“Victims are rarely interested in pursuing the case, probably because of the stigmatisation attached and the monetary involvement of settling medical bills.
“Before the crime is reported, evidences are erased as the victim must have had her bath, and again, family members hardly support the crime being reported to the police.
“At the end, rapists get away scot-free and it is who you apprehend that you will sentence,” she said.
Ibatara therefore called for improvement of medical investigation to help solve rape cases.
“The DNA of the semen sample and other related evidences can be resolved through medical investigation, but unfortunately, we still have a long way to go on this,” she said.
