By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday approved a bill that mandates life imprisonment for anyone—male or female—convicted of sexually abusing minors, aiming to curb the rising incidents of child sexual abuse in the country.
The approval comes amid growing national outrage over the increasing cases of pedophilia and child molestation, which have left countless victims suffering both physically and psychologically.
Data from human rights organisations and law enforcement agencies in recent years indicate that Nigeria has experienced a worrying rise in sexual assaults against children, with victims as young as five being targeted by adults, including family members, teachers, and religious leaders.
Presenting the motion, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC–Edo North) emphasised that defilement of a minor should be treated distinctly from adult rape.
“A minor is a child who cannot give consent and whose life can be permanently damaged by such an act. Those involved in defilement deserve severe punishment.
“I propose 20 years penalty for anyone found guilty. There are disturbing cases involving children as young as five or ten,” Oshiomhole said.
Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau, also expressed support for the motion, stressing that offenders should face imprisonment without the possibility of paying a fine.
While Oshiomhole’s initial proposal of a 20-year sentence gained some traction, it was later overturned after Senator Muhammad Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central) argued that the penalty needed to be harsher to serve as a deterrent.
“I want to propose that the punishment for defilement of minors should be life imprisonment, regardless of the offender’s gender,” Aliero said.
Senator Solomon Adeola (Ogun West) immediately endorsed this view, stating that the severity of the crime justified the maximum punishment.
When Senate President Godswill Akpabio called for a voice vote, the motion received overwhelming support.
Akpabio declared, “I hereby move that henceforth any man or woman who is guilty of defiling a minor should be sentenced to life imprisonment.”
The bill’s passage is expected to act as a strong deterrent amid public concern that many child rape cases go unpunished due to weak enforcement and social stigma.
Over the past ten years, several high-profile cases involving minors being raped—some by trusted relatives and religious figures—have drawn national condemnation and renewed calls for stricter penalties.
During the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons reported a spike in child defilement cases, with many perpetrators avoiding punishment due to loopholes in existing laws.
If enacted, the new law will replace earlier provisions under Nigeria’s Criminal Code and Penal Code, which prescribed lighter sentences for offenders.