Nigeria, Feb. 24 -- The Governor of Jigawa State, Muhammad Badaru, has assented to a bill stipulating stiffer punishment for rapists.

The new Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law stipulates the death penalty for rape convicts who infect their victims with HIV/AIDS.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported how the state House of Assembly passed the bill last Wednesday and transmitted it to the governor for assent.

While assenting to the bill, Wednesday, Mr Badaru commended the state's Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Musa Aliyu, and the state's Council of Ulamas for their collaboration leading to the passage of the bill.

The governor said he assented to the bill after consultation with the Council of Ulamas who assured him that no ...