Katsina govt goes tough on rapists

As a result of an increase in rape cases in Katsina, the state government has announced the amendment of the punishment of rape cases to be rigid and applicable to every person that commits the offence.

The state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Ibrahim Ahmed Dantsoho, disclosed this at a press conference yesterday in Katsina.

He said the rampant increase of rape cases was unacceptable, hence the need to amend the punishment.
According to him, it is unfortunate that seven out of 10 criminal cases reported by the police to the Justice ministry were rape cases.
Dantsoho said in January alone, this year, the ministry recorded 21 cases of rape within the metropolis, adding that “presently there are close to 100 rape cases pending in various courts across the state.”

He condemned the rape of children of between three and five years across the state, stressing that it became imperative to change the second leg of the punishment stated in Section 283 of the Penal Code and make it so rigid to discourage the increase.
Dantsoho further called the attention of the people on the maxim under the criminal law ignorantia legis nemo execuser, meaning that ignorance of law “is not an excuse.”