- Chief Superintendent Victoria Obeke raises concern over underreported Gender-Based Violence cases, noting that 95% of incidents go unreported
- Dr. Lydia Umar highlights challenges Civil Society Organizations face, emphasizing the need for increased awareness and collaboration against GBV
Victoria Obeke, Chief Superintendent of Police in the Kaduna State Police Command, has voiced her apprehension regarding the underreported cases of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), stating that a staggering 95% of such cases go unreported. She highlighted the challenge of survivors not being fully aware of the abuse they endure, emphasizing the need for parents or guardians to ensure justice for victims of GBV.
Addressing participants at the launch of the Zonal Research Report on ‘Closing Civic Space: The Experience of Women-Led Civil Society Organizations in Northwest, Nigeria’ in Kaduna, Obeke urged attendees to persist in their efforts and continue raising awareness about GBV.
Dr. Lydia Umar, Project Coordinator and Executive Director of Gender Awareness Trust (GAT), explained that the research was prompted by suspicions surrounding Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the region. Umar noted instances where the governor of Zamfara State ordered NGOs to leave, and the state assembly sought to pass a law regulating CSOs.
Umar advocated for the government to allow NGOs and CSOs to contribute to the country’s development and the upliftment of humanity.
Representatives from Kaduna, Zamfara, Birnin Kebbi, and Jigawa shared their experiences, identifying lack of funding, incomplete implementation and awareness of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law, and the absence of Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) registration as significant constraints hindering their progress. The revelations underscore the challenges organisations face to address GBV and emphasize the critical need for increased awareness, support, and collaboration.