National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has declared that Nigerians who justify rape now risk getting arrested as suspects.
The Director-General of the agency, Julie Okah-Donli, said this while answering questions from journalists in Abuja on Wednesday.
Speaking further, she queried parents for not doing enough to take care of their wards and children, revealing that 90 per cent of rape cases were committed by uncles, fathers and relations.
The NAPTIP DG emphasized that many careless acts by parents are responsible for rape cases across the country.
Okah-Donli revealed that the agency would approach the Ministry of Justice to push for the establishment of special court to try rapists.
According to her, the special courts will allow for speedy trial of all persons accused of rape.
The NAPTIP DG also expressed concerns over the non-adoption of the Violence Against Persons Act by state governments, noting that such states are inadvertently promoting sexual violence in their domain.
Okah-Donli also called for life imprisonment instead of capital punishment for convicted rapists.
She added that there is need to educate Nigerians, especially parents on rape issues.
The NAPTIP boss stated that there are toll-free phone lines of the agency that can be called to make complaint, especially as it concerns rape, which are 07030000203, 0802255627847 and 08077225566.
Okah-Donli said cases could also be reported on social media platforms such as the Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, among others.
