Sokoto State Government has said that no less than 65 separate cases of defilements, rapes and sodomy were reported and recorded in the state within the space of two months.
The Sokoto state commissioner for women and children affairs, Hajia Kulu Sifawa, while briefing the journalists in her office disclosed this on Tuesday.
She reveals that between April and June, the state has recorded 65 cases of defilements, rapes and sodomy and likened the cause to the COVID-19 Lockdown.
She said, “The increase in the cases of rape, defilement and Sodomy can be attributed to lockdown as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.”
Sifawa noted that her ministry is in collaboration with civil society, and non-governmental organizations in order to ensure justice for the victims of rape, defilement and sodomy.
The minister added that ministry has provided palliatives for those in IDPs in Wamakko, Ghadi in Rabah Local Government area Sabon Birni in the state in order to cushion the effect of the coronavirus in the state.
She then called for a severe penalty for rapists, stressing that the increase rate of rape cases in the country could be blame on moral decadence. She then enjoined parents to rise up to their responsibility in ensuring good morals and values in their children.
She noted that part of the ministry’s efforts is the passing of the child right act, adding that the ministry had met with stakeholders in the state such as the sultanate council, the ministry of justice and state house of assembly, the Ulamas and other religious organizations to fine-tune the grey areas for the domestication of the child right act.
She, therefore appreciate the state governor, Aminu Tambuwa for his support towards the ministry, noting that the ministry is faced with inadequate funds to carry out some of its responsibilities.
