Members of the House of Representatives Today rejected a prayer seeking castration as he punishment for convicted rapists.
This is coming on the heels of the rising cases of rape across the country.
At plenary on Thursday, the house adopted and debated a motion on the rising cases of sexual violence in Nigeria brought forward by Rotimi Agunsoye from Lagos State.
James Faleke, also from Lagos, recommended that persons convicted of rape should be castrated.
The lawmakers outrightly rejected his recommendation as the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, subjected the option to a voice vote, to which the nays had it.
However, the lawmakers condemned the increasing cases of rape in the country which they described as the most common form of violence against women.
They called for stiffer penalties against persons found guilty of rape.
The federal representatives also asked the federal government to launch a more effective campaign against rape and other forms of sexual violence against women.
In honour of victims of sexual violence in Nigeria, the House resolved that members should be dressed in black on the next legislative day. The House is expected to sit next week Tuesday.
Last week, Vera Omozuwa, a student of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), was raped while reading inside a church, while Barakat Bello, an 18-year-old girl, was reportedly raped at her father’s home in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Tuesday. They both died from the act.
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