Mrs Julie Okah-Donli, Director-General (DG), National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), has cautioned Nigerians to desist from justifying rape or get arrested as suspects.

Okah-Donli said this while answering questions from newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday.

She queried parents for not doing enough to take care of their wards and children, explaining that 90 per cent of rape cases were committed by uncles, fathers and relations.

According to her, many careless acts by parents are responsible for rape cases across the country.

She, therefore, said that the agency would approach the Ministry of Justice to push for the establishment of special court to try rapists.

Okah-Donli also called for life imprisonment instead of capital punishment for convicted rapists, adding that there was need to educate Nigerians, especially neighbours on rape issues.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the agency’s toll-free lines to call during distress, especially as it concerns rape are – 07030000203, 0802255627847 and 08077225566.

The NAPTIP boss said that cases could also be reported on social media platforms such as the Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, among others.

She, however, said that there was no national template of victims’ trauma response to share pain, adding that the duration of psychological trauma varies from individuals.

Among others, two undergraduates, Uwa Omozuwa and Barakat Bello, were recently raped and murdered.

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons on Friday said it had recorded over 30 cases of human violence during the Coronavirus pandemic lockdown.

Julie Okah-Donli, Director-General of the agency, stated this at the donation of palliatives to partners who are taking care of the human trafficking victims and orphanages.

According to Okah-Donli, investigation are ongoing on some of the cases and will be followed to conclusion to ensure that justice was done.

She said: “Sodomy is one of the disturbing issues.

“The last one we got is a father who raped his four-year-old daughter and was caught by the wife.

“We have other disturbing cases like that.”

On palliatives, Okah-Donli said the donation was to support the vulnerable, who are in the care of the agency’s partners to cushion the effect of the lockdown.

She said palliatives were also donated to the agency by the Federal Capital Territorial Administration.

She said: “Those that benefited from the palliatives are orphanages and private shelters in the FCT such as Daughters of Abraham, Damsel of his glory and Mother Theresa orphanage.

“Others are Rachael home, Mican Shelter, Okenethin Foundation and Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation.”

Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Emabong Sanusi, Executive Director, WOTCLEF, appreciated the donation, saying it came at the time when the people needed it.

Sanusi said some vulnerable at the shelter and orphanages have been denied education, recreational activities, freedom of movement and infringement on their lives.