Children in Katsina lament rape, sodomy as statistics climb

The nauseating rape statistics from the Police are worrisome: in only reported cases – many are unreported and others swept under the carpet in a secretive society – 300 reported cases, 22 of sodomy by adults on children, with the rape moreon 14-year-olds and younger.

The Katsina government itself claims there are at least 34 rape cases daily.

The children themselves are complaining bitterly, according to media reports.

On Monday, the children took their case to the state lawmakers from their own parliament, Save the Children International (SCI).

Speaker, Ibrahim Maharazu, had his own bizarre tale to tell the children in Daura, hometown of President Muhammadu Buhari.

His story: “There is a case of a 23-year-old man who raped a girl of 11. He went to the girl’s house with a bucket under the guise of wanting to fetch water. When he discovered that the parents of the girl were away and that only two other sisters of the girl were at home, he proceeded to force her into a room and raped her.

“There is also a case of a rich man, who had homosexual relations with youth in one of the communities in Daura. When the rich man was caught, he pleaded for leniency and promised to take care of the victim, to meet his immediate and future needs. Sadly, the man has been known to be into such acts in the past, and he was once asked to leave Daura by the Emir. It seems he secretly came back to continue his lifestyle.”

Maharazu said it is time for all to rise against the scourge, promising that the State House of Assembly will make a statement soon.

It is not clear if Katsina State lawmakers have adopted the Child Rights Act. At press time, there was no indication to that effect, but state watchers fear that even with the law, meant to protect abuse of children, in place the cultural practice of ‘hear no evil, see no evil, and report no evil’ will reign more