The Bauchi State Action Committee on Sexual and Gender-based Violence, under the leadership of the state First Lady Dr. Aisha Bala Abdulkadir Mohammad, has visited Ganjuwa Darazo local government area on the continuation of its sensitization visit to the 20 local government areas across the state.
The Secretary of the Committee, Hajiya Talatu Musa Gar, who spoke extensively on the main aspect of the visitation, said their main mission is to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to curtail the menace of sexual and gender-based violence in the state and the country at large.
Talatu Musa Gar said the state first lady and also the Committee are working tirelessly with the relevant authorities to deal with those who violate the act of sexual assault or any form of violence, including domestic violence.
She, therefore, called on the people of the state, community leaders, religious leaders, and others to put hands together and report any form of crimes to the authorities, saying that such would help them to protect the people of the state and also to punish those that commit such crimes.
On his part, the Chairmen of Darazo and Ganjuwa local government, represented by their deputies, called on the good people of the community to assist in reporting any form of violence or crime to the nearest station to put an end to the menace.
They both thanked the state first lady for her support and efforts in assisting less privileged women, girls, and Youth in the state.
The legal adviser of the Committee Brr. Sadiq Abdul’aziz mentions the punishment of those who commit the crimes of SGBV according to Nigerian law; he said if the crime is committed intentionally, the perpetrator (s) will even spend the rest of their lives in imprisonment.
While the imam and pastor of the two local governments, Malam Sirajo Yahaya and Reverend Adamu Zaki, mention that God almighty is angry with the community that is committing such crimes of SGBV and others, they both quoted verses from the holy Qur’an and bible that prohibits any form of violence no matter how little.
On the security side, Inspector Shu’aibu Yahaya and Assistant DPO Muhammad Ganjuwa mention some of their challenges, which are hiding the perpetrators of the crimes or not even reporting the crime on the spot.
They called on the leaders of the communities to assist them in reporting such crimes no matter the age or status of the perpetrators, saying that such will help them to protect innocent lives.
While the representatives of the health sector Nurse Aisha A. Muhammad and Raliya Sambo mentioned some of their challenges which include delays in visiting the hospital immediately after the crime occurred, they mentioned that at times police are not attending to the victims almost the evidence will fade or some parents insist of hiding the crime, saying that such will bring shame to their families.
A token of cash was given to the participants of the sensitizations, and they promised to step down what they had learned to those who were not in attendance.