Public defendant office raises alarm over increasing rape cases in Kano

The Public Defendant Office (PDO) in Kano State, yesterday, alerted that incessant reports of sexual assault on minors dominate its case file, resulting in rising cases of rape in the city.

PDO, a private initiative of Partnership West Africa of Nigeria (PWAN), was established to render free legal services to indigent people.

Speaking at a public sensitisation programme, a senior administrator with the PDO, Mrs. Rot Kang Kynni, said the office has so far received over 200 cases, 30 per cent of which involved sexual assault on minors.

Kynni, who decried cases of detention of suspects at Police station, said: “We received on daily basis reports of six and nine-year-old girls in our office. Although we have issue of thief, murder and related issues, but about 30 per cent of them is on sexual assault.

“Out of 200 cases, we have secured 40 victories. There are issue of awaiting trial in Police custody and we are working hard to make sure we try to check this abuse.”

He urged the public to contact the PDO for legal advice and legal services.

Meanwhile, the National Export Promotion Council (NEPC), yesterday, unveiled a new window of opportunity through its SheTrades initiative to empower women entrepreneurship in the state.   

The new initiative was part of NEPC’s national action plans on zero oil growth through women inclusiveness in global export trade forum.