By Saminu Ibrahim
No fewer than 1200 cases of Sexual and Gender Based Violence which includes, rape, domestic violence, child sexual abuse, sexual exploitation has been recorded in Nigeria in 9 months.
The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu made the revealation on Thursday at the launch of UNSUB Web and Mobile Application, as a response platform for victims of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in Nigeria.
The Police Chief, who was represented by Deputy Commissioner of Police at the Force Intelligence Bureau, Margaret Ochalla said the 1200 cases were recorded between the month of January, 2020 to date.
According to the police, “reports of sexual and gender based Violence has spiked up tremendously across the globe, Nigeria inclusive, saying the emergence of COVID-19 has contributed to rise in crimes, such as sexual violence and abuse”.
Consequently, Adamu wondered that despite the legislative frameworks like Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act 2015, Child Rights Act (CRA) 2003, promulgated to protect Nigerian women and children from abuse, the Nigeria Police Force, the media and other informal reporting medium are daily awash with reports of various forms of violence.
He however assured that the police as a major stakeholder in the fight against the menace will not relent in it’s efforts through investigation and prosecution of offenders.
The Executive Secretary of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Tony Ojukwu in an opening statement noted that UNSUB was launched in collaboration with the CANs, OSIWA, office of the Vice President and Embassy of Switzerland in Nigeria.
According to Ojukwu, “Since the Advent of the shadow pandemic of rape and other sexual and gender based Violence (SGBV) with its attendant dire human rights implications, the National Human Rights Commission has continued it’s quest for solutions in partnership with well meaning stakeholders”.
He explained that UNSUB is a cutting edge technology designed to support response to cases of SGBV to work in sync with others and to also keep track of progress with the aid of technology.
“There is no doubt that this new window of opportunity will be a watershed in the fight against SGBV and other human rights violations in our dear country” Ojukwu added.
Also speaking, the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, who spoke through the Chairman Senate committee on Judiciary and Human Rights, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele hailed the National Human Rights Commission’s efforts, in collaboration with the office of the Vice President, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), saying “it is a worthy collaboration that should encourage further partnerships in resolving, or mitigating related matters”.
Meanwhile, the Speaker of the House of Representatives was represented by the deputy chairman, House Committe on Judiciary and Human Rights, Hon. Simon Karu.
Speakers at the event included, Hajia Saudatu Mahdi, Professor Joy Ezeilo of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, representative of the Attorney General of the Federation, Yewande Bola, representatives of FIDA, Nigeria Governor’s forum among others.
