Countrywide reports of 24,720 incidences of gender-based violence in one month, Minister

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), 36 states, and Mrs. Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, Minister of Women Affairs, reported 24,720 occurrences of gender-based violence (GBV) between September and October 3, 2023.

Kennedy-Ohanenye made this point clear as she briefed reporters on the country’s ongoing problems with GBV, female genital mutilation (FGM), and other harmful traditional practises.

“We recorded about 24, 720 cases of various forms of violence cases that were reported across the 36 States and FCT,” the minister stated.

Additionally, there were 975 fatal cases and 1,505 cases that were closed out of fear and intimidation by the survivors themselves, the court, the community, families, and religious or traditional leaders.

Additionally, only 306 people have been found guilty and given sentences during the past four years nationwide, while 8,540 open cases are still pending, either at the police station or in court.

She lamented the rising numbers and urged all parties to act quickly to help end the threat, which she said has grown alarming and negatively impacts residents’ lives, particularly those of women and children.

According to the minister, establishing mobile courts will advance the rule of law, increase access to justice, and improve the criminal justice system’s ability to combat violence against women and girls, particularly in rural areas.

There is no way we can resolve any of these issues without a rule of law, she asserted.

We can never get it right if we have the rule of law, but it is being delayed and the prosecution is not being handled properly by pressing these cases and using the few people as examples to put an end to all of these things.

And is it possible to establish the rule of law without a mobile court? If a mobile court could be set up for traffic infractions? Why don’t we create a mobile court to safeguard the lives of our infants, women, and other vulnerable people?

She added that the government will make sure that justice is served in the recent case of a nine-year-old being reportedly molested by her father.

The minister also denounced instances of “jungle justice,” in which people were being lynched by mobs, and demanded immediate action to stop such incidents and catch the offenders.

She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to putting an end to all types of violence, ensuring justice for victims and survivors, advancing women’s empowerment, and promoting the education of girls.