Senator Florence Ita-Giwa says rapists should have their genitals cut off upon conviction

FORMER Cross River South senator Florence Ita-Giwa popularly known as Mama Bakassi has said the best way to end rape and sexual assault in the country is by ensuring convicted rapists have their genitals cut off.

 

Senator Ita-Giwa, who also served as special adviser on National Assembly Matters to former president Dr Goodluck Jonathan, spoke as  a special guest at the Magnenta and Black Art & Fashion for Charity, a fundraising exhibition for the Mirabel Centre, held at the British Council in Lagos. It was organised by a group known as Friends of Mirabel, where the menace of child abuse was debated.

 

She  maintained that throwing child-rapists into prison is not enough justice but cutting off their genitals will ensure they do not use them on other children. Making reference to accounts of rape by two survivors at the event, the senator said capital punishment is needed to address the menace.

 

Senator Ita-Giwa added: “The lady said she was happy that she got justice for her four-year-old daughter who was raped by two men but in my mind, if I were a judge and a man is brought to court for raping a child, he will receive capital punishment. However, I will say, don’t kill him, rather let him live his life in pain, let his organ be cut off.

 

"He should not be allowed the pleasure of using that organ anymore because if the organ is not cut off, at the end of his term in prison, he will use it on other children. Fortunately for them, I’m no longer in the Senate but I will find a way to get it into the chamber as this is the proper way to end the evil of rape in the society.”

 

While commending the Mirabel Centre for its commitment towards rehabilitating survivors of sexual assault and rape, she  pledged  support to  the centre and called on all to join in the fight against rape and sexual assault. Also speaking, the managing partner at Partnership for Justice and founder of the Mirabel Centre, Itoro Eze-Anaba, said that the situation had  reached a stage  that girls are no longer safe in their homes since fathers and uncles rape them.

 

“Rape is not a girls’ or women’s issue, it is a community issue because boys are also being raped daily. The implication is that if we do not end it, the abused may end up as an abuser and a time will come when the society will be filled with abusers,” Mrs Eze-Anaba added.

 

She called on public spirited individuals and organisations to support the Mirabel Centre to continue with the good work of protecting children. Last months, senators rejected a gender equality bill when it was debated in the National Assembly.