The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) on Tuesday complained that rape victims’ parents, faith-based organisations and community leaders frustrate the fight against rape and make it difficult to bring perpetrators to book.

Director-General of the agency, Dame Julie Okah Donli, said this while addressing reporters at a forum to declare the resolutions of a tripartite meeting to combat rape and other sexual and gender-based violence with the Inspector-General of Police and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

She said,

“The problem we keep having with rape is that parents are the first people to want to settle these problems within the family. We are saying that it is not a family matter. We are no longer going to accept settlement of rape cases within the family and that is why rapist are getting away with it and carrying out rape with impunity.”

Chairman of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Mr. Wahab Alawiye-King, called for a child-friendly justice system to check rape of minors.

He spoke on Tuesday at the board’s programme to mark the International Day of the African Child.

Speaking on the theme: “Access to Child-Friendly Justice System in Africa” Alawiye-King said for minors to get justice, the process of accosting perpetrators must be age-appropriate, speedy, and meet the child’s needs.”