Nigeria Recorded No Fewer Than 3,600 Rape Cases During Lockdown

The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Pauline Tallen, on Monday, noted that Nigeria recorded no fewer than 3,600 cases of rape during the lockdown.

She said, “Reports that we received from commissioners of women affairs across the 36 states of the federation revealed that each state recorded at least 100 rape cases during the Covid-19 induced lockdown.”

Tallen revealed this development when she paid the Deputy President of Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege, a courtesy visit on Monday.

The Minister in a statement released through the Media Office of the Deputy Senate President commended Omo-Agege for sponsoring the sexual harassment bill, which was passed in the Senate last week.

She commended the Nigeria Governors Forum for declaring a state of emergency on sexual and gender-based violence. She, however, called for more laws to protect the girl-child and women.

The Deputy Senate President while speaking noted that the approval of the Sexual Harassment Bill was in furtherance of the legislative agenda of the 9th Senate to protect women’s rights.

He said, “The proposed law will not only send a strong signal to those who may want to abuse women but ensure that students were not at the mercy of sexual predators.”