The Programme Coordinator, Centre for Community Health and Development, Mrs Lucy Usein, said 61 rape cases had been recorded in Gombe State in the last three years.
Usein made this known at a press briefing organised by a non-governmental organisation, the Child Protection Network in Gombe on Tuesday.
She said 14 cases were reported to the organisation in 2011, 26 cases in 2012 and 21 cases so far in 2013.
“These are the only ones that are reported; there are many cases and because of fear of stigmatisation, parents do not like the matter to be treated in public,” she said.
She said most of the victims of rape were from low socio-economic backgrounds, and appealed to parents to report such cases to the police so that the culprits would be prosecuted.
The Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Gombe State, Mr Ado Solomon, called on the National Assembly to expedite action on the enactment of Violence against Persons (Prohibition) Bill.
He said the law should contain a provision for compensation for rape victims, adding that rape in Gombe State and other parts of the country were on the increase.
“This is part of the rising cases of domestic violence against women and the denial of the rights of the girl child in our society.
“Our women and girls face daunting challenges; in the last couple of years, many have fallen victims to such bestialities like gang rape, incest and all manner of domestic abuse.
“It was confirmed that more than 31.4 per cent of the girls living with HIV reported rape as their first encounter,’’ he said.
The director said the menace of rape was spreading like `wild fire’, but that no much attention was being paid to the problem.
“Most women and girls that are violated would rather suffer the psychological and physical trauma silently than reveal their encounter and the culprit goes scot-free.
“Many other victims are too scared of stigmatisation by the public,’’ he said.
A senior district head in Gombe, Alhaji Abdulqadir Abubakar, called for stiffer penalties on culprits of rape.
