Fight Against Rape: Iyalode Alaba Lawson Advocates Death Penalty, To Lead Women To NASS
By ABIODUN JIMOH, ABEOKUTA
Perturbed at the increasing rate of rape cases across the country, Iyalode of Yorubaland, Chief Alaba Lawson has advocated that passing death sentence on the culprits is the best way to get rid of the menace.
Iyalode Lawson however pledged to lead Nigerian women to lobby lawmakers at National Assembly on need to consider capital punishment for rapists, a crime noted to be rampant across the country.
She stated this while featuring as a guest on a live radio programme on Splash F.M titled ‘Man and the Law’ anchored by versatile broadcaster, Desmond Nwachukwu, National President of Freelance Independent Broadcasters Association of Nigeria (FIBAN).
She said: “I am ready to lead women to the National Assembly to lobby our lawmakers to promulgate law that will give room for stiff and drastic penalty for rapists. The law against rapists in this country is obsolete, and it is high time the law is reviewed.
“I am worried over the rape menace, the obsolete law against rape has been responsible for the increase of rape cases. There is need to review the law, to accommodate stiff penalty for the offenders.
“The victims of rape and their families should also not keep silence over such incidents, but should cried out for justice. The family should henceforth disabuse their minds from the family affairs colouration, which encouraged rapists to continue the bad habit.”
Furthermore, the patron of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ogun State Council commended journalist for roles being played towards fighting the menace, but noted that for the work to be fruitful, the authorities should implement a stiffer penalty against the criminals.
Iyalode who was the Chairman, Communiqué Drafting Committee of Penpushing Media on Fight Against Rape, Child And Women Abuse declared: “For me, the best solution to this menace is sentencing the criminals to death.
“I can assure you if this is put in place, the criminals will desist and let me also say this, the law on rape is obsolete, and it is high time it is review.”
While reacting to police challenge on short of funds to investigate and prosecute rape cases, she hereby called on Nigerians, corporate bodies and individuals to support the funding of the unit responsible for the case in the Nigerian police.
Moreover, she listed that the latest rape cases as at the time of the interview to be 80 women/girl child in Nigeria within a period of six months. “The new ugly development introduced by the rapists is the killing of the victims after forceful sex with them.
“I am calling on parents on need for them to properly monitored their children, and teach them morals at home as being practiced in schools.”
