Let NAPTIP prosecute rape cases — Pyrates Confraternity

The National Association of Seadogs, also known as Pyrates Confraternity, has asked the Federal Government to withdraw prosecution of rape and other gender-based violence cases from Nigeria Police and allow the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) to handle such cases.

The group said Violence Against Persons Act (VAP) had already given NAPTIP the jurisdiction to prosecute such cases and police’s withdrawal from such cases would further speed up prosecution.

The male-dominated organisation, during its virtual commemoration of the 16-day Activism to end Gender Based Violence, also disclosed plans to launch massive campaign in the country.

Its Capoon, Mr. Abiola Owoaje, stressed the need to further raise public awareness of the menace and also called for the implementation of the VAP Act.
A legal expert, Ajuluku Eze, lamented state government’s ability to domesticate VAP Act.

He highlighted the offences listed in the VAP Act to include forced ejection from home, spousal battery, rape, forceful financial dependence or economic abuse. Others are harmful widow practices, female gender mutilation, abandoning of children, harmful substance attack, forceful isolation from friends, violence by state actors such as the police, Road Safety.

A rights activist, Ms Jesinta Ike said gender-based violence had become pandemic, following report that one in three women were violated daily. She stressed the need to put efforts to end the pandemic.

A domestic violence victim, Queen Ibinabo, narrated how she suffered for 10 years in marriage and walked away from toxic relationship, when her life was under threat She urged women and society to stop stigmatising divorced men and women in the country.