Yobe Governor Approves Life Imprisonment For Rapists

Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam, the Yobe governor, has assented to the law that places life imprisonment and 25 years jail term for rape of minors and adults respectively.

Gaidam while signing the law in Damaturu, said that government took a proactive action in view of the rampant cases of rape, kidnapping and unnatural offences being reported across the country.

“Whoever commits rape, where the victim is a minor, shall be punished with imprisonment for life and where the victim is an adult, shall be jailed for a term of 25 years,” he said.

He said that 14 years jail term await any kidnapper apprehended in the state.

“Anyone who is ascertained to have carnal knowledge against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal is said to have committed unnatural offence and shall be convicted with a prison term that may extend to 25 years or not below 14 years.

“The law stipulates that whoever takes, entices, confines any person by means of force, threat or deceives such person without his consent or lawful authority with intent to deprive him of his personal liberty will be construed to have committed the offence of kidnapping,” he said.

The governor added that compensation will be awarded to the victim of rape by the court depending on the circumstance of the crime.

Gaidam said his administration was doing all it can to hasten the dispensation of justice to attain a peaceful, egalitarian, disciplined and prosperous society.