By; ARCHIBONG ESUENE, Makurdi
Non governmental organisation (NGO), Concerned Women International Development Initiative (CWIDI), has requested collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), to assist them seek intervention on issues of gender based violence.
According to them, the synergy will equally help in addressing marginalization against particularly those in Benue State to have access to justice.
Speaking during an advocacy visit to mark the one week sensitization exercise organised by the group held at the A Division Police Station in Makurdi, Senior Programme Officer CWIDI, Becky Gbihi, lauded efforts of the police in the fight against criminality with cases of gender based violence inclusive.
She recalled with satisfaction that the police in the past has champoined the fight on cases of sexual harassment, battery and assault on women.
The Group is seeking collaboration with the Police to end marginalization of women, particularly on issues of gender based violence in the society as well as to help them have access to justice.
The senior programme officer, CWIDI, also lamented that some women have under gone the worst injustice, emphasizing that most times, those in this category of business are raped multiple times especially as the society views them negatively, “as humans they should also be protected by the law since they are not going into any criminal activity.”
She appealed to the Police to always listen to complaints of victims of gender based violence including irrespective of their sex status on the merits of such cases to avoid stigmatization.
In her contribution, programme management specialist of the organization, Precious Ifan, said it was realized through research, that women are unable to report cases of rape, sexual harassment, battery and other related violent issues for fear of stigmatization.
She explained that CWIDI is seeking synergy with the police so that the Police would be more friendly with women by giving them due attention and their cases treated fairly each time they come to the police to report such cases.
Speaking separately, head of family and gender unit, DSP Ebogu, and Inspectors Grace Sunday, Gloria Atoba and Achenetu Jibrin, all blamed parents refusal to report gender based issues such as rape on account of stigmatization.
They called on victims of sexual assault and rape to go to the Police and report immediately, any time they suffer such violations for the Police to swing into action, instead of waiting for several months before going to report.
Responding, the DPO A Division, CSP Iliasu Mohammed represented by the officer in charge of administration, ASP Zhattau Andrew, assured the group of the resolve of his division to collaborate with them to ensure that justice is delivered to women who suffer gender based violence such as sexual assault.
CSP Mohammed commended the group for the visit and encouraged women who are sexually assaulted to feel free to report at the counter like any other case for investigation to unravel the suspects for possible punishment according to the law.
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