Sex Offender Registry is Long Overdue

The damage being done to humanity by unbridled sexual violence in Nigeria, in particular, and Africa in general is evident. Unfortunately, after the occasional outrage over incessant cases of sexual violence (mainly against children and women) and the short public memory that goes with each case before more “important issues” engage the attention of officials and the general public, there appears to be no lessons learnt; no new or change of approach; and no intervention implemented. We basically wait for another sensational media report about crass sexual abuse that goes on in our society. There is little or no disincentive to the perpetration of this heinous act and offenders know that much.  We should begin to implement measures to deter perpetrators and also to enable the public to track their whereabouts and keep them off from the most vulnerable, especially our children.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) publishes on their website information from all 50 states of the USA, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and numerous Indian tribes for the identity and location of known sex offenders. There is no such data in Nigeria and in many African countries.  Sex offenders and paedophiles easily move from one city or from one state to another after wrecking havoc on innocent lives and they quickly settle in their new location to continue their pattern of criminal acts.

A recent report about a 12 year old girl allegedly raped by her class teacher in Plateau State of Nigeria shows the frightening scenario in which these cases could occur. There is urgent need for the police to establish a central registry with relevant details, including mugshots, about known or convicted sex offenders and such information should be available online to the general public. Schools and organizations could search such database as part of screening of prospective employees where applicable. Freedom of Information Act has mandated free access to information to the public. If there is any information that could assist in preventing sexual assault by tracking the history and movement of sex offenders and closely monitored by law enforcement agencies and the general public, a Sex Offender Registry is urgently called for and should be on website accessible to the public. We could all begin to sensitize the police and the general public on the need for this registry. Our little voices will eventually coalesce into a loud noise which will not be easily ignored. 

The foundation for a society where the sanctity of individual space, dignity and liberty is respected and enforced is laid by our collective effort at taking back our community from relatively few individuals who desecrate our humanity.