Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly have called on the necessary security agencies for enforcement of the existing criminal laws in order to proffer immediate solutions to sexual abuse cases in the state.
Hon. Meiranda Mojisola representing Apapa constituency I, who made the call at the Plenary under Matter of Urgent Public Importance on Monday Sept 5, 2016, decried the rate at which sexual abuse and criminal cases occur in the state, saying that it is very alarming and disheartening.
In her words, “I came across a story of a 13-year-old girl in a national newspaper who was gang raped and got pregnant by three men including a 60year old in Owode Ibeshe area of Ikorodu, Lagos State. So, parents and guardians should be watchful of the kind of people they leave their children and ward with, either both male and female. Children and wards should also be educated on how to raise alarm when they sense danger.”
Contributing to this, Hon. Nurudeen Solaja-Saka expressed that the culprits carried out the drastic act in an uncompleted building in Ibeshe. He added that the policemen, Kabiyesi and Chiefs are investigating the matter.
Hon. Moshood Oshun said that there are so many stigmatizations attached to rape victims in our society and effort should be made to build confidence to the families of the victims so that they will not be stigmatized. He also suggested that there is need to make use of sex register and publicize rape offenders so that people who are residing with them would know the kind of person they are living with.
Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa expressed that there should be regular campaign against violence, rape and abuses. He advised that the police should put more effort in their pursuit against violence. He advised that rape cases go beyond calling attention of parents but to call relevant agencies to enforce existing laws so as to prosecute rape offenders in order to serve as deterrent to others.
