The Federal Government has launched a register for sexual offenders aimed at naming and shaming rapists and other perpetrators of gender-based violence.
According to figures made available by a non-governmental organization, Women At Risk International Foundation (WARIF), up to a thousand cases of sexual assault are being recorded in Nigeria daily.
The launch of the register, which is the first of its kind in Nigeria is, therefore, considered to be timely as the government intensifies efforts to mitigate the scourge.
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At the event which took place in the nation’s capital, Abuja, the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Farouq, commended the initiative, saying it will serve as a strategy to stop those engaged in violence against women.
Also commending the initiative was United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, who insists that offenders must be made to face the law.
The record is expected to be available online to allow transparency with members of the public and to help state bodies, security agencies and other stakeholders conduct background checks and identify repeat offenders.