The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday passed a bill prescribing life imprisonment for anyone — male or female — found guilty of sexually defiling minors in a move to stem the rising tide of child sexual abuse across the country.

The passage of the bill comes amid mounting national outrage over increasing cases of pedophilia and child molestation, which have left many victims physically and psychologically scarred.

Reports from rights groups and law enforcement agencies in recent years show that Nigeria has witnessed an alarming surge in cases involving children as young as five being sexually assaulted by adults, including family members, teachers, and clerics.

Presenting the motion, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC–Edo North) stressed that the offence of defiling a minor should be treated differently from that of raping an adult.

“A minor is a child who cannot give consent and whose life can be permanently damaged by such an act. Those involved in defilement deserve severe punishment.

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“I propose 20 years penalty for anyone found guilty. There are disturbing cases involving children as young as five or ten,” Oshiomhole said.

Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau, also supported the motion, insisting that offenders should face punishment without the option of a fine.

Although Oshiomhole’s initial 20-year jail term proposal gained traction, it was later rejected after Senator Muhammad Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central) argued that the punishment should be stiffer to serve as a deterrent.

“I want to propose that the punishment for defilement of minors should be life imprisonment, regardless of the offender’s gender,” Aliero said.

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His position was immediately backed by Senator Solomon Adeola (Ogun West), who maintained that the gravity of the crime warranted the maximum penalty.

When Senate President Godswill Akpabio put the motion to a voice vote, the “ayes” were overwhelmingly in the majority.

Akpabio declared, “I hereby move that henceforth any man or woman who is guilty of defiling a minor should be sentenced to life imprisonment.”

The bill’s passage is expected to serve as a deterrent amid growing public concern that many child rape cases go unpunished due to weak enforcement and social stigma.

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Over the past decade, several high-profile cases of minors being raped — some by trusted relatives and religious figures — have drawn widespread condemnation and renewed calls for harsher penalties.

In 2020, during the peak of the COVID-19 lockdown, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons reported a spike in cases of child defilement, with many offenders walking free due to loopholes in existing laws.

If signed into law, the new legislation would replace earlier provisions under Nigeria’s Criminal Code and Penal Code, which prescribed lighter sentences for offenders.

A representative of Igbo community in Edo State, Chief Samson Awiaka, has said the title of Eze Ndigbo does not exist in Edo State.

Awiaka position followed comments by some agitators.

He made this known when he led members of Igbo community in Edo State to pay homage to Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, Oba of Benin, during the 9th coronation anniversary celebration of the first class traditional ruler on Monday in his palace, Benin City.

Awiaka extolled the sterling qualities of the Oba Ewuare II, saying, “your Royal Majesty, we are here (Palace) to congratulate you on this ceremony. You are our grand Patron. In Benin, there is nothing like Eze Ndigbo.

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“We will continue to be with you. You have been so good to us. You and the whole Edo people have been so good to us”, he said.

In a similar development, members of Yoruba, Arewa and Hausa Communities in the state also paid tributes to the great Benin throne in grand style and reaffirmed their loyalty to the Benin throne for peaceful reign and impactful leadership in upholding Edo heritage.

Chief Imam of Central Mosque in Benin City, Alhaji Abdulfatai Enabulele who spoke on behalf of Arewa and Hausa Communities in the State, said, “you do not argue that with the King. You do not battle with the Oba of Benin”.

“Edo has witnessed a tremendous peace and progress since your reign as Oba of Benin”, according to Alhaji Enabulele.

The Direct Descendants of Capt. Sir Ededuna Walter Obaseki has Congratulated His Royal Majesty Oba Ewuare II CFR, on his birthday and 9th coronation anniversary.

A congratulatory message made available to INFO DAILY by Mercy Ededuna Obaseki on behalf of the entire direct descendants wished “his Majesty good health, abundant blessing and great wisdom for more developmental strides in our great Benin Kingdom.”

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The message reads: “Long may you reign our Revered Oba of the great Benin Kingdom, even on this 9th Coronation Anniversary and joyous birthday.

“We wish Oba Ewuare II double favour. We are happy about his majesty’s leadership style. We pray for more goodness in our land.

“You have touched the lives of many people through various health care programmes, community development programmes, as you guide us towards prosperity and unity since you ascended the throne of your ancestors.

“Oba kha Tòr kpere Iséé.”