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Rapists will face castration, death penalty under new Nigerian state law

A new law in the Nigerian state of Kaduna dramatically increased the legal consequences facing convicted rapists.

Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna since 2015, recently signed off on an order that legalizes surgical castration for men convicted of rape.

Women will have their fallopian tubes cut out.

Anyone who rapes a child under the age of 14 will have sexual organs removed before facing the death penalty.

Those who are convicted of rape against victims over the age of 14 will also face life in prison, The New York Times reported.

“Drastic penalties are required to help further protect children from a serious crime," El-Rufai said, according to The Associated Press.

Reported cases of rape in Nigeria have risen dramatically during the months of coronavirus restrictions, and women’s advocacy groups have called for tougher measures against sexual assault.

Multiple reports of child rapes in Kaduna have sparked outrage in the last year.

Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, is comprised of 36 states including Kaduna. The country is most known for its capital city, Abuja, and Lagos, the richest, most populous state in the country.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.