There has been a rising trend of rape in Kano State, northwest Nigeria, with little or no justice for the victims due to the absence of proper laws.

Development Diaries reports that a recent report by Premium Times revealed that rape is still one of the most prevalent crimes in the state.

The report also quoted a community head in the Nassarawa local government area of the state, Bala Shehu, as saying that the community frequently received complaints of rape and that there are no sufficient laws to deal with the issue.

According to figures from the Kano State Ministry of Women, Children and Disabled Affairs, the ministry is currently tackling about 300 rape cases, and both boys and young girls are among the survivors.

Amnesty International revealed in November 2023 that more than 100 cases of gender-based violence (GBV) are reported weekly in Kano State.

One thing is clear: the failure of the Kano State government to domesticate the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act and the Child Rights Act (CRA) has contributed to the prevalence of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in the state.

Among other provisions, the VAPP law stipulates punishment for acts such as sexual abuse, domestic violence and harmful traditional practices such as female genital mutilation (FGM) and forced marriage.

Regretfully, Kano has not domesticated the law. The state is also yet to domesticate the CRA, which was enacted in 2003 to protect the rights of children.

By adopting these legal frameworks, Kano State can establish a robust legal foundation to address and prevent various forms of violence perpetrated against women and children.

While we call on the Kano State House of Assembly to adopt the VAPP law, we urge Governor Abba Yusuf to assent to the Kano State Child Protection Bill to ensure the rights and dignity of residents, particularly women and children.

Photo source: UNFPA