The Nigerian Senate has called for the enforcement of the aspect of the Child Rights Act which prohibits early marriage of the girl-child, as part of measures to address the growing incidence of rape of minors among others in the country.

Galaxy’s Godfrey Eshiemoghie reports that the Senate also called for stiffer penalties for perpetrators of rape in the light of growing incidence of sexual assault in the country in recent weeks.

These form part of the resolutions reached by the Senate during plenary this Tuesday sequel to a motion by Cross River Central Senator, Sandy Onor who, under the matters of urgency called on the Senate to rise to the occasion to arrest the disturbing spate of rape in the country, this coming against the backdrop of the incident involving an undergraduate, Miss Uwa Omozuwa in Benin City, Edo State. 

In their separate submissions, a cross-section of senators called for stiffer penalties for perpetrators of rape, a point of view equally shared by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan.