Nigeria Police Unite With NAPTIP, NHRC To Tackle Rape And Gender-Based Violence

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu, has called for improved partnership, strategy and joint operations by the Police and other relevant stakeholders to stage a common front against rape, child molestation, trafficking in person and other sexual-based violence in the country.

The IGP stated this on Thursday, during a tripartite meeting held between the Police Chief and the Heads of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) – Dame Julie Okah Donli and Mr. Tony Ojukwu, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

He remarked that rape and other sexual offences have become a menace, not only in the country but globally and assured that the Force is repositioning Gender-Desk offices in all Police Commands to effectively investigate cases of gender-based violence and ensure that perpetrators do not go unpunished.

Adamu further assured of an enhanced working relationship with NAPTIP and the NHRC to evolve a proactive and comprehensive National Response to the issues of Sexual Offences in the country.

The meeting also had in attendance, the Rule of Law Adviser – Office of the Vice President, Dr. Fatima Waziri, Members of the Police Management Team, the Commissioner of Police in-charge of International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), the Force Gender Officer and others.

In a related development, wife of Lagos State Governor, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, urged Nigerian men to replicate the ongoing massive anti-racism protest in United States in Nigeria against sexual and gender-based violence to send a strong message against rape and its perpetrators.

Ibijoke spoke while receiving participants at a special all-male awareness walk with the theme tagged: “Men Against Rape”, organised by the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) in collaboration with Partnership For Justice and Mirabel Centre against rape in Alausa.

She said sexual violence against women and girls must be accorded same level of seriousness with which the coronavirus pandemic was addressed to demonstrate commitment to end the menace.

“It is sad that while we fight coronavirus pandemic, an unseen enemy, we are still having to deal with issues of a seen enemy and that is the perpetrators of rape and other forms of violence against women and children,” she said.

The Lagos first lady commended men of good conscience who rose up to be counted for a good cause, by participating in the awareness campaign, which was aimed at highlighting the importance of men to join the fight against sexual and gender-based violence.

MERIDIAN SPY reports Thursday, Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen said COVID-19 lockdown is the cause of spike in the number of rape cases in the country.

Tallen said the government is preparing an action plan which would involve the judiciary and the media, to tackle the rape menace.