Kano State Government has launched a database for recording sexual offenders in the state.

The database called, ‘Sexual Offenders Database (SOD)’, is aimed at recording sex offenders for the purpose of naming and shaming them to discourage sexual offences in Kano.

Kano State Chief Judge, Nura Sagir Umar, who launched the database on Monday, said it would help in curbing the menace of sexual offences by exposing the name, photo, number of times sexual offenders commit the crime, dates, places, convictions, reports, and arraignments.

The Centre for Information Technology And Development (CITAD) had recently released a report indicating rise in Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Kano.

Justice Umar said creating the database for the said purpose became necessary considering the fact that GBV had been on the increase since the advent of social media over the last two decades.

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“Every stakeholder must work towards curbing the menace by proactively protecting the family, which in the end will protect the society,” he said.

He further called for the official publication of the sexual offenders register to be made public in local government areas to name and shame, and serve as deterrent to others.

Kano Grand Khad, Dr Tijjani Yakasai, commended the launch of the SOD, adding that the “zero tolerance policy” declared by the state government was a step in the right direction as the menace was very disturbing.

The Secretary to the Kano State Government (SSG), Alhaji Usman Alhaji, represented by the Commissioner for Justice, Muhammad Abdullahi Lawan, said the state was ready to support the SOD.

In his remarks, Kano State Commissioner of Police, Ismaila Dikko, represented by the O/C, Gender, Kano, CSP Loveth Jomo, described the SOD as a welcome development.

The Star