No fewer than 13 rape victims have been treated at Funtua General Hospital in Katsina State from January to date, the hospital’s Medical Director, Tijjani Bakori, has said.

Mr. Bakori told the News Agency of Nigeria in an interview on Thursday in Funtua that most of the cases were severe.

He disclosed that some of the victims had to undergo surgery in the hospital.

The medical director lamented that three of the rape victims were admitted by the hospital in the last four days.

“This signifies the magnitude of the problem in Funtua and environs, and it is important for all stakeholders to intensify efforts to address the menace.”

According to him, all the victims were below the age of 13 and mostly from less privileged families.

He noted that there was no presence of International and National Non Governmental Organizations in the area to support the victims, noting that respective families of the victims were left to shoulder the burden.

He urged the Katsina State Government and local councils in the area to ensure that the perpetrators were traced and severely punished.