Castration as punishment for persons convicted of rape suggested by a member,James Faleke, has been voted against by lawmakers at Thursday’s plenary session.

The lawmakers were debating a motion on the increased sexual violence against women particularly the rape and murder of two girls in Oyo and Edo states recently.

18-year-old Barakat Bello, was reportedly raped at her father’s home in Ibadan, while Vera Omozuwa, a student of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), was raped while reading inside a parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

The lawmakers, while debating the motion brought forward by Rotimi Agunsoye, condemned the increasing cases of rape in the country which they described as the most common form of violence against women.

According to them, reasons for sexual violence against women are; weak institutions, poor enforcement, poverty and unacceptable social practices.

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They  added that asides rape cases, Nigerian women also suffer harassment and brutality in the hands of security agencies.

Although the lawmakers voted against castration of rapists as an amendment to the motion, the lawmakers called for stiffer penalties against persons found guilty of rape.

They also charged federal government to launch a more effective campaign against rape and other forms of sexual violence against women.

In honour of victims of sexual violence in Nigeria, the House resolved that members should be dressed in black on the next legislative day.