The Katsina State Government has issued a firm warning to individuals committing Gender-Based Violence (GBV), declaring that stringent legal measures now await those found guilty.
Government Takes a Firm Stand
Governor Dikko Radda delivered this strong message on Tuesday afternoon during a stakeholders' sensitisation workshop focused on GBV, the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), and Girl Child Education. Represented by the state's Information Commissioner, Dr. Bala Zango, the Governor stated that the government will no longer stand by while vulnerable persons are victimised by unscrupulous elements.
Relevant statutes have been passed by the State House of Assembly and endorsed by the government, ensuring that perpetrators of GBV will face the full wrath of the law. Governor Radda emphasized that the government is deeply concerned about GBV cases and believes that working in synergy with stakeholders is a crucial step towards finding a lasting solution.
A Call to Action and Collaboration
The Governor called on all relevant security agencies to ensure that anyone found guilty of GBV-related crimes receives the requisite punishment. He also urged residents across the state to be vigilant and report any cases of GBV within their communities, assuring that all such reports will be treated with the seriousness and urgency they deserve.
Echoing the need for public cooperation, a representative from the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Musa Hadeja, identified rape as the most common form of GBV reported to the agency daily.
However, Hadeja pointed out a significant setback: the reluctance of people to come forward and report these crimes. He encouraged the public to report incidents immediately, especially within the first few minutes or hours after they occur, to aid effective intervention. He assured that NAPTIP's doors are always open to receive such cases and take necessary action to protect vulnerable persons.
National Context: The Push for Political Representation
In a related development, stakeholders and gender-rights advocates have intensified their calls for the National Assembly to pass legislation guaranteeing reserved seats for women. They argue that the rising levels of violence against women are a direct consequence of their exclusion from political leadership.
At the Women of Words (WOW) 2025 event in Abuja, organized by Gender Strategy Advancement International (GSAI), alarming statistics were highlighted. 36 per cent of married women in Nigeria are survivors of intimate partner violence, while a staggering 96 per cent of women aged 15 to 49 have experienced some form of physical or sexual violence.
Executive Director of GSAI, Adaora Sydney-Jack, stated that these figures underscore the urgent need for political reforms that grant women equal access to decision-making. She affirmed that women are not lacking in competence but are lacking in space, connecting political empowerment directly to the fight against GBV.
