The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu has said that a total number of 799 suspects have been arrested in connection with rape this year.
The Police boss also revealed that Nigeria has recorded 717 reported rape cases between January and May 2020.
The IGP disclosed this to journalists after a meeting that involved President Muhammadu Buhari, Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, and Pauline Tallen, Minister of Women Affairs at the presidential villa in Abuja on Monday.
Adamu added that 631 cases have been taken to court whi8 52 are under investigation which would soon be concluded.
He said, “The law enforcement agents have been dealing with these cases. In most cases, members of the public are not aware of the actions that the law enforcement agents have been taking.
“The Nigeria Police so far from January-May 2020, we have recorded about 717 rape incidents that were reported across the country; about 799 suspects have been arrested, 631 cases conclusively investigated and charged to court and 52 cases are left and under investigation.
“The police and other security agencies and other non-governmental organisations have been collaborating, to see to it that these cases of rape and gender-based violence are dealt with.
“The NGOs and CSOs that have the capacity to deal with this kind of offences, have been cooperating with law enforcement agencies in capacity building, management of victims of rape and similar offences and procedures for collecting evidence towards successful prosecution.
“The government has taken the matter to another level now because of the scourge we have noticed.”
Adamu also asked citizens not to hesitate to report any crime related to gender-based violence.
“There are a lot of causes. Some are doing it for ritual purposes; some are doing it because they are within the family and they see the victims and have the urge to go into it and do it. But such people should not be allowed to go scot-free,” he said.
“I am just to inform you that government is doing something about it .Henceforth, national partnership with every stakeholder is what we are going into now and not only within the country but within the sub-region.”
