The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Senator Pauline Tallen, has said there's an upsurge in rape cases nationwide as no fewer than 3, 600 cases of rape were recorded during the lockdown.
She disclosed that, according to the reports from commissioners of women affairs across the 36 states of the federation, each state recorded at least 100 rape cases during the COVID-19 induced lockdown.
She further applauded Omo-Agege for the approval of the Sexual Harassment Bill, adding that the proposed law will not only send a strong signal to those who may want to abuse women but ensure that students are not at the mercy of sexual predators.
It should be noted that the bill was passed by the Senate at its sitting on July 7, 2020 and it prohibits sexual harassment of students in tertiary institutions and prescribes jail term ranging from two to 14 years for various degrees of offences. The proposed legislation also prescribes N5m fine for offenders.