Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa state, Wednesday, promised to append his signature for death sentence passed on any perpetrator of rape and kidnapping considering the devastating effects of the acts on the economy of the state.
He made the promise during a sensitisation programme of action against the spate of Kidnapping and rape in Nasarawa state with the theme “Kidnapping and Rape: Implications and Challenges for Economic Development in Nasarawa state”.
Sule said the theme was in tandem with his administration’s commitment in ensuring a serene environment for economic activities to thrive in the state.
He said the unpleasant situation has continued to pose danger to human lives, as well as heighten fears in the people, who no longer move freely in the society.
“This is considering the fact that these heinous crimes have negative implications, particularly on the girl child,resulting in psychological trauma,stigmatization of the victim and oftentimes a bleak future.
“It is for this reason that this administration responded to the ugly situation by signing into law on the 2nd April, 2020for the prohibition of the act of kidnapping and rape which has been gazetted in order to stem the tide of kidnapping and rape in the state,” he said.
He however, used the opportunity to call on residents of the state who were affected by any form of Police brutality and extrajudicial killings to remain calm and approach the Commission of Inquiry set up by the state government with their grievances.
Speaking on the Executive Director, Nigeria Centre for Women, Youth and Community Action, (NAWYCA) Dr Nawani Aboki called for proactive steps towards enforcement of laws against rape and kidnapping as part of measures towards ending the trend.
State commissioner of Police, Mr. Bola Longe, said Nasarawa state had recorded over 40 cases of rape with 35 suspects arrested between April and October 2020.
He said the police was fully prepared for the full enforcement of laws against rape and kidnapping approved by Nasarawa state government
