By Mohammed Suleiman, Dutse
Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State has promised to deal decisively all cases concerning Gender-Based Violence in the State
Recent data from George Town Global Health Nigeria( GGHN) shows that there has been one thousand four hundred and fifty four ( 1444) cases of physical and Emotional violence were reported among people living with HIV/ AIDS, while two hundred and sixty eight cases of sexual violence and rape against boys and girls were reported between January to date.
“As a government, we are worried over the proliferation of such offences. Even before you came here today, we had already spoken with the judiciary, particularly the Chief Judge of the State, on this issue of bailing of sexual offenders. We know the problem lies in the judiciary”.
“The Violence Against Person Prohibitive Law states that the minimum punishment for sexual offences is 14 years of imprisonment. I want to assure that we would see that the law is fully implemented and punishment duly meted. We would not tolerate any injustice regarding these matters.”
Speaking while receiving a Team of Gender based advocate after a Rally to Mark the 2023 16 Day of Activism Against Gender Based Violence themed “UNITE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls, paid him a courtesy visit at Govt. House Dutse, the Governor promised to ensure full implementation of the violence against persons prohibition Law (VAPP).
He gave the CSOs the mandate to report any wrongful bail or untreated cases of rape cases for prompt desciplinary action.
He noted that the menace of Gender based violence and its detrimental effect can not be over emphasized hence the need for a comprehensive awareness creation and sensitization campaigns.
Governor Namadi assure NGOs of govt commitment in taking issues of Gender- Based Violence with utmost despatch as a dedicated and coordinating unit or Agency Against Gender-Based Violence has been established with the sole mandate of approaching and addressing this pervasive issues through well planned and coordinated approach towards addressing GBV cases.
Responding, Team Leader, Hajia Kaila said even though there had already been enacted Violence Against Person Prohibitive Law in the state, their worry was that people convicted of rape and other unnatural offences were being bailed barely three months after conviction.
She said that such hasty bail of convicts should be discouraged to promote the abatement of vile offences in society. She then called on the governor to help ensure the impartial application of the law in the prosecution of sexual offenders and gender abusers.
