The bill to surgically castrate convicted child rapist has been signed into law in Nigeria’s north-western Kaduna state.

The Governor, Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai signed into law a measure introducing tough penalties for convicted rapists.

The Governor confirmed the signing of the bill passed last week by the state lawmaker in a tweet on Wednesday evening.

The law states that those convicted of raping a child below the age of 14 should be surgically castrated and given the death sentence.

Where the victim is over 14 years, the law provides for surgical castration and life imprisonment.

Female adults convicted of raping a child will face bilateral salpingectomy (removal of fallopian tubes) and death.

In rape cases where the victim is under the age of 14, a medical report will be necessary to corroborate the allegations.

Child rapists will also be listed on a sex offenders’ register to be published in the media.

Kaduna is the only state in Nigeria with such legal provisions on rape.

There has been a growing public outcry over rape across Nigeria in recent months. Although there have been numerous arrests, the number of convictions has been very low.