2021: Rape cases increasing in Jigawa – Justice ministry

The Jigawa State Ministry of Justice has said of the 196 case diaries on various offences received from January to December 2021, rape cases topped with 90 case files.

The report stated that sodomy is next with 30 cases.

The Ministry expressed concern that rape, despite two stringent laws put in place, is on the increase in the state.

Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, while briefing newsmen on the activities of his ministry in the last 12 months, explained that other top crimes are 27 culpable homicide cases and 20 robbery cases.

He further explained that the ministry recorded 18 abduction/kidnap cases, cheating/fatal accidents recorded three cases each, while offences of incest and act of gross indecency recorded the least with two case files each.

The Commissioner for Justice stated that there was a slight improvement in the dispensation of justice.

According to the Attorney-General, the state had yet to record any conviction under the laws, expressed optimism that it would soon get convictions with the renewed determination of the judiciary in the state to speed rape cases.

Aliyu said that a total of 84 suspects were prosecuted before eight high courts in the five emirate council headquarters of Dutse, Hadejia, Gumel, Kazaure and Ringim.

He said that out of the figure, 34 convictions were secured, while 49 other cases were still pending.

He explained that 498 criminal cases were recorded out of which 112 were disposed of, eight struck out and 415 cases are still pending in the state.

According to him, the year 2021 is a year of pride to the ministry, stressing that it succeeded in getting two controversial Bills, namely Child Rights Act, and Violence Against Person Prohibition Bill passed and assented to by the state governor.

Aliyu observed that the ministry’s Department for Legal Drafting worked very hard in collaboration with other stakeholders to domesticate the bills to ensure it goes in line with the spiritual disciplines and good cultural values of the Jigawa State people.

He enjoined all stakeholders to discharge their shared responsibility with sacrifice and dedication to ensure speedy dispensation of justice on cases in the state.

DAILY POST recalls that Governor Badaru Abubakar had on February 21, 2021, signed into law, the Violent Against Persons Protection (VAPP) Law passed by the Jigawa State House of Assembly.

The law, among others, made provision for life imprisonment against anybody convicted of raping persons under the age of 14 years.

Also, the governor on December 22, signed into law the newly enacted Child’s Protection Bill passed by the Assembly, making death sentence the penalty for anybody convicted of raping girls under the age of 10 years.