The incidence of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) has increased in North-central Nigeria over the period of the pandemic and it has become an urgent issue in need of a multi-sectorial approach.
This was revealed by a number of civil society organisations (CSOs), under the aegis of the COVID-19 Nigeria Security Support Group, during its press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, through its convener and executive director of CLEEN Foundation, Dr. Benson Olugbuo.
Others who signed the statement included Spotlight for Transparency and Accountability’s Muazu Alhaji Modu,
COMPPART Foundation for Justice and Peacebuilding’s Saviour Akpan Esq., Center for Environmental Education and Development (CEED)’s Enoch Nyayiti Raymond
Health Standard Concern Organization’s Abdullahi Lawali, Challenged Parenthood Initiative’s Eunice Abimbola Agbogun, Ogun State Coordinator of the COVID-19 Nigeria Security Support Group Olumide Fidelis Igbodipe, Kebbi State Coordinator of the COVID-19 Nigeria Security Support Group Abubakar Jibril, Socio Economic Research & Development Centre’s Tijani Abdulkareem, Sokoto State Coordinator of the COVID-19 Nigeria Security Support Group Muddassir Ahmad Gado, Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice’s Orugbo Ovuodo Endurance,
Centre for Health & Development in Africa (CHEDA)’s Muhammad Yolde GIDADO,
Social and Integral Development Centre (SIDEC)’s Ehiahuruike Ugochi, Sulhu Development Initiative’s Idris Mohammed, Center for Peace and Environmental Justice’s Authority Benson, Prison Inmate Development Initiative’s Mbami Iliya Sabka, Upline Centre for Development’s Alo Martins, Global Peace Development’s Mandu Obot, Community Action for Popular Participation’s Gupar Maurice Dazuhur,Imo State coordinator of the group Emmanuel U. Obasi, Kimpact Development Initiative’s Bukola Idowu Kimpact, Human Rights Monitor Sarah Alalade Esq., Pathtogrowth Entrepreneurship Centre’s Sam Ekwuribe, Youth Forum for Social Change (YOFSOC)’s Emmanuel Acha, FCT coordinator of the group Nkiruka Harrison, Agape Foundation for Literacy and Rural Development’s Pastor Gabriel Odom, Global Peace Development’s Akumazi Kevin Udoka, PADAC Foundation’s Muhammad Maishahada, Next Generation Youth Initiative International (NeGYII)’s Ambassador Onoja, Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC)’s Jude Ndoh Esq., a legal practitioner and Oyo State coordinator of the group Kehinde Adegbite Esq., Socio Economic Research & Development Centre (SERDEC)’s Tijani Abdulkareem, Edo Civil Society Organization’s Annie Umoru, African Centre for Innovative Research and Development (AFRI-CIRD)’s Mohammed Bello, Borno Coalition for Democracy and Progress’s Boyi Gagaya, Gender Relevance Initiative Promotion’s Rita Ilevbare Esq., Nasarawa State coordinator of the group Fatima Ekundayo, Crystal Justice Initiative for Legal Advancement’s Zainab Abdulmumini Abubakar.
Olugbuo said the Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated sexual and gender-based violence in Nigeria, with Benue State leading the roll-call of violence against minors.
“Unfortunately, incidents of rape and other sexual and gender-based crimes have multiplied across the geopolitical zone. Among the North Central states and FCT, rape cases have been reported more in Benue state especially against minors.”
He went on to list incidences which led to the conclusion.
“We received reports of a 7-year old girl who was raped by a 27 years old man named Patrick Onoja Igah on June 9th at Ngurute within Ogadibo LGA. He was subsequently arrested and currently in police custody at the Benue State Police Command.
“Similarly, a report was filed at ‘B’ Division Police Station Makurdi on June 5th 2020 that 28 years old Terver Awuka defiled a 6-year old girl. Another report indicated that two adolescents of 15 and 14 years respectively reported on 9th of June 2020 that they were raped by Apaa Gbafan and Igbadoo Ahondu respectively in Gboko LGA of Benue state. The suspects were arrested and investigations are currently ongoing.
“We also received another report of a young man who raped a married woman in Ado LGA of the state. The culprit is currently in detention at the Ado Police cell in the state. There is another report of a medical doctor named ‘Dr. Ebele’ who was arrested for allegedly raping an 11-year-old girl in Otukpo LGA on the 11th of June 2020. As at the time of the report, he was in custody of the vigilante security unit outfit in Otukpo. These developments are worrisome and demands urgent attention of security personnel and judicial institutions.
“In Nasarawa State, it was reported on 27th of May 2020 that a 3-month old baby was defiled at Adogi, a suburban area of Lafia, the state capital by 27-year-old Ahmadu Yaro who was arrested by a personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, Nasarawa state Command. In addition, a 14-year-old junior secondary school student resident in Kubwa was reportedly raped by her grandfather’s 21-year caregiver, Godwin Onuminya. The defendant is currently being prosecuted by the Nigeria Police Force on charges of rape.”
The group went ahead to call for a multi-sectorial approach to the issue and requested that the government work with CSOs and NGOs to ensure the scourge is tackled before it blossoms into a national emergency.
“There is no gain-saying that the increasing incidence of SGBV is a worry. Hence, there is need for states to develop systematic mechanisms to deal with rising cases of sexual and gender-based violence,” Olugbuo said.
The group also decried the rate of extra-judicial killings across the country and called for the nation’s security personnel to be reined in.
“On 11th of May 2020, it was reported that a military personnel enforcing the lockdown order, flogged an elderly foodstuff seller to death in Nasarawa LGA of Nasarawa State. The incident was reportedly lodged at the Nasarawa Police Division.
“Similarly, officials of the Nasarawa State Agency for Youth Empowerment Scheme (NAYES) on the 26th of April 2020, while enforcing the state government’s directives banning commercial motorcyclists, used sticks to flag down a motorcyclist carrying a passenger and a gallon of petrol. The altercation led to an explosion and the death of both the cyclist and his passenger who were burnt beyond recognition.
“On the 8th of June 2020, a young man was shot dead by a Police officer in Gwazunu Suleja area of Niger state. It was reported that a suspected thief was caught in the area and was about to be lynched by the youths. In an attempt to salvage the situation, the deceased pleaded that the suspect be taken to the Police station. On their way to the station, some policemen on sighting the crowd and unsure of the reason why the crowd was approaching the station, opened fire and killed the deceased in the process.
“The Complaint Response Unit of the Nigeria Police Force has acknowledged receipt of the complaint and initiated further investigations,” just as he called for more proactiveness and caution from personel of security apparatus and state ‘task forces’ in the execution of their duties.
