‘11 of 224 rape cases undergoing prosecution in Adamawa’

The Yola Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), also known as Hope Centre, has called for improvement in the prosecution of rape and other sex related assault cases in the state. The manager of the centre, Dr Usha Saxena, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola, said only 11 out of […]

The Yola Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), also known as Hope Centre, has called for improvement in the prosecution of rape and other sex related assault cases in the state.

The manager of the centre, Dr Usha Saxena, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola, said only 11 out of the 224 cases bordering on rape that the centre has attended to were currently undergoing prosecution, a development she said, only the police and judiciary are better placed to explain.

“That is why we need a bigger centre or more offices so that we can have desk officers from the police and lawyers in the centre to facilitate prosecution of suspects.

“We also want such cases to be taken to high courts, instead of magistrates or area courts that are not competent to handle rape cases,” Saxena said.

She said the centre, established and equipped with the support of the British Council under its Managing Conflict in Nigeria (MCN) programme, has been providing free treatment, counseling and legal services, among others, to survivors of Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in the state.

Saxena lauded the recently launched National Sexual Offenders Register (SOR) for the compilation of data of those convicted for sexual violence, noting that the development will contribute positively in addressing sexual violence.

She urged Adamawa to key into it so as to give the fight against sexual violence more bite in the state. (NAN)