Kaduna State: From Now On Rapists Will Be Castrated

Kaduna state legislative assembly has approved that those convicted of rape undergo castration.

Complete surgical castration is the punishment now reserved for rapists and others convicted of sexual assault in Kaduna State in Nigeria. According to a BBC report, the State Commissioner for Women’s Affairs and Social Development, Hafsat Baba, called the approval a “welcome development” and said it would serve as a “deterrent” to rapists.

After the law is passed by parliament, all that remains is its approval by Governor Nasir El-Rufai, so that it becomes law in force in the state. In June, Nigerian governors declared a state of emergency for rape and violence against women and children in the country. The number of successful prosecutions of rape suspects remains low and stigma often prevents victims from reporting incidents.