Police lament withdrawal of charges against rape culprits

Police in Kano State on Saturday appealed to relatives of rape victims to stop withdrawing charges against culprits.

The police spokesman in the state, SP Abdullahi Haruna-Kiyawa, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that withdrawing charges filed against rape culprits was not serving the course of justice.

He expressed regret that relatives of victims often withdrew charges to settle out of court.

He lamented the fact that most rape victims in the state are between the ages of five years and 17 years across both genders.

He equally lamented the frightening rise in rape cases in the state in recent times.

Haruna-Kiyawa said the police had secured the conviction of some rape culprits, while others were still being prosecuted.

He urged members of the public to report rape cases promptly.