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.

The Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB), Ibaka in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom has inaugurated a borehole with a 6,000 capacity in the host community.

Inaugurating the water project on Friday at Naval road in Ibaka , Capt. Uche Aneke, the Commanding Officer of the base, said the water project was part of FOB Ibaka non-kinetic exercise.

He said that the rehabilitation was done to meet the dire need for clean water within the  host Community as part of Operation Delta Sanity III Civil Military Cooperation Exercise (CIMIC).

Aneke said that the inauguration of the project was expedient following the importance the Nigerian Navy places on health and domestic sanitation.

He used the opportunity to enlighten and admonish the people of the community, on the importance and use of clean water in their daily activities.

The commanding officer also emphasised that under the current leadership of Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, such community service would be constant and sustained.

Aneke urged members of the host community to maintain the unwavering good civil–military relationship and cooperation with the Base.

He warned the criminal elements in the area of the constant surveillance of areas under the FOB Ibaka Area of Operations, and the Eastern Naval Command Area of Responsibility would be sustained.

“The Base will not rest on its oars and will sustain arrest of criminal elements, with a view to actualising the mandate of Operation Delta Sanity III,“he said.

He stated that Nigerian waters and the Nigerian coastal areas are not for illegal activities.

Earlier, Mr Sunday Etim, the Transition Committee Chairman of Mbo local government area, thanked the Nigerian Navy for providing access to clean water to its host community.

Etim, represented by Mr Ukoh Udombo, the Supervisor for Information and Communication, urged the community to protect and maintain the project for the benefit of the people.