The Kano state House of Assembly says it would amend the state’s penal code law in order to upgrade the punishment for rape in the state from 14-years imprisonment to castration of offenders.

DAILY FOCUS reports that the decision was announced on Wednesday during the assembly’s plenary session.

According to a Daily Nigerian report, the lawmakers took the decision following a motion tabled before them by Nuruddeen Alhassan, member representing Rano constituency to amend the law on rape.

The session, presided over by the assembly’s speaker, Abdulaziz Garba Gafasa, agreed to review the State’s Penal Code law No, 12 of 2014, which currently stipulates a maximum of 14 years in prison for rapists.

According to Mr Alhassan, the persistent cases of rape being recorded in the state means that the perpetrators are not deterred by the 14-year prison sentence.

“Therefore, I am calling on the house to recall the law and amend it, to provide castration punishment for rapists.

“I believe this is the only measure to be taken to end the rampant cases of rape in our society, as it is so worrisome.

“I also want to appeal to the house to look into the security issues, so as to strengthen their efforts in tackling the rape cases in the state,” Mr lawmaker was quoted as saying.

Mr Alhassan also called on parents to stop forcing their children into street hawking, which he said is a culprit in the menace of rape.

He added that rapists usually take advantage of female hawkers and lure them into unfinished buildings or construction sites, where they attack them.

In adopting the motion, the lawmakers also urged the Kano state government to compel owners of uncompleted buildings to finish them.