Governor Gaidam of Yobe State.

Determined to curb the growing incidence of rape in the state, Yobe State Government has proposed life imprisonment without option of fine for any rapist caught and convicted of the crime.

Alhaji Mustapha Goniri, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Damaturu on Wednesday.

He said that government had received series of complaints from parents, some community based organisations and rape victims calling for the review of the existing law.

“The law has been revised from 14 years jail term to life imprisonment without option of fine.

“The bill on the proposed law has been forwarded to the State House of Assembly for passage into law,’’ he said.

NAN reports that some mothers in the state and some Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) welcomed the proposed law and commended the government for the initiative.

Hajiya Fatima Usman, a mother of four, said told NAN that: “I can’t wait to see this bill passed into law and come into effective use.”

Mrs Kaltume Baba, a woman activist, also commended the state government for introducing the new bill.

Baba noted that rapists would leave the state once the law was enforced.