Concerned students urge lawmakers, NOA to support death penalty for rapists

Following the rising cases of rape in the society, a group of students have urged lawmakers and National Orientation Agency (NOA) to support death penalty for rapists.

Citing the recent case of a student of Edo State University, Uwaila Omozuwa, who was gang raped and killed and another student, Barakat Bello who was raped inside her parent’s house in Ibadan, the group said all stakeholders must rise and take a decision that would nip the act in the bud.

Speaking with The Guardian on the incident, President, National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), Sunday Asuku, said, “The recent rape cases in the country should be critically looked into and should be of concern to stakeholders. Rape is an offence that deserves capital punishment, it has sent so many of our young girls with promising future to their early graves and the most painful part is that we barely see or hear of harsh penalties awarded these rapists.”

“We want the NOA to swing into action immediately and also carry critical stakeholders along in sensitising students, youths and the society on the implications and consequences of rape.”

The convener of Concerned Nigerian Students (CNS), Bayonle Oyewole, expressed dissatisfaction with lawmakers for not formulating laws that would sentence rapists to death or life imprisonment.

“The National Assembly should pass a bill supporting life imprisonment for rapists after conviction. The murderers of Uwa in Benin and Barakat in Ibadan must be apprehended and brought to book. There is also need for speedy trials of existing rape cases and conviction in the presence of substantial evidences.”

Another student, Ayeni Esther from the University of Ibadan said, “We can’t all be free from these rapists. They are those respected and trusted in the family or society, so how do we speak against them without being stigmatised by the society or who will believe such?
My opinion is that any rapist caught in the act should be castrated.