Hajiya Binta Bello, Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), has called for stricter penalties for rape to serve as a deterrent.

Bello made this demand during the close-out event of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law implementation in Cross River on Monday, organised by Stand to End Rape.

Represented by Mr Jacob Oba, Head of Operations, NAPTIP, Cross River Command, Bello emphasised that rape was a heinous crime against humanity.

She advocated for collective efforts to eradicate it through timely reporting, assisting survivors, providing legal services, and awareness campaigns to reduce stigmatisation.

Bello appealed for a united front against rape, reaffirming NAPTIP’s commitment to combating VAPP Act violators, including human traffickers.

On her part, Dr Mercy Kwabe, Co-director of Stand to End Rape Initiative, acknowledged Nigeria’s progress in promoting equal rights through the VAPP Act.

However, she highlighted the need for better public understanding of the law, particularly in local languages.

Kwabe stressed the importance of amending the VAPP Act to incorporate harsher penalties for perpetrators, rather than repealing it.

Similarly, Ms Ann Awa, Chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Cross River Chapter, echoed the need for full implementation of the VAPP Act across states.

She suggested fine-tuning contentious sections rather than abolishing the law.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in partnership with agencies like the National Orientation Agencies (NOA), Stand to End Rape Initiative conducted VAPP Act sensitisation in Ikot Awatim community, encouraging residents to report suspected cases.

An Ado-Ekiti Magistrates’ Court on Friday ordered the remand of a 27-year-old man, Damilare Oladele, in the correctional centre in Ado-Ekiti over alleged murder of his grandmother.

The defendant, whose address was not provided, is being tried for alleged murder.

The prosecutor, Insp Akinwale Oriyomi, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on Sept.26 at about 01:30 p.m in Ado-Ekiti.

He alleged that the defendant murdered his 72-year-old grandmother, Ige Oladele.

Oriyomi said the deceased told her grandson that she was hungry, while the defendant told her that the deceased was disturbing him, in the process, he pushed her away, which led to her death.

According to him, the offence contravened Section 234 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.

The prosecutor urged the court to remand the defendant in a correctional centre, pending legal advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

The plea of the defendant was, however, not taken.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr Abayomi Adeosun, ordered the remand of the defendant in the correctional centre, pending issuance of legal advice.

He adjourned the case till Nov.11 for mention.

Police arrest two for allegedly selling newborn twins in Lagos

The Police Command in Lagos State says it has arrested two women, Ujunwa Una and Chinelo Igbechionwu over alleged sales of newborn twins.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed this in a post he shared on his X handle @benHundeyin on Friday.

He said that the police apprehended the suspects based on a tip-off by a concerned citizen.

“The suspects were arrested by patrol officers from Ojodu Division stationed at Berger bus stop, an entry point into Lagos State, who had earlier been alerted about the suspects by a good Samaritan.

“The suspects were found with two newborn baby girls, approximately six days old, while travelling from Abia State on Sept. 9.

“Investigations revealed that the suspects were en route to deliver the babies to one nurse in Lagos State whom the mother of the babies promised to link them up with only after they had arrived in Lagos.

“Upon questioning, the suspects confessed to the crime, stating that they were paid the sum of ₦150,000 for transportation of the babies to Lagos.

“The suspects added that the mother of the babies sold the babies because she could not give them proper care, ” Hundeyin said.

The image maker said that the case was transferred to the Gender Unit of the Command, from where the newborns were placed in the custody of a motherless babies’ home for proper care and medical evaluation.

According to him, an investigation is ongoing to arrest other conspirators.

The spokesperson said that the arrested suspects were arraigned on Thursday.