Report by ALIYU LAWAL; Editing by BASIRAT MEMUDU
Over one thousand rape and gender based violence(GBV) cases have been recorded in Niger State, from January to July this year.
Director, Planning and Gender Based Focal Person, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Niger State, Mrs Mary Isa stated this in an interview with Newsmen in Minna.
Mrs Mary Isa explained that rape and gender based violence is a great menace her ministry is not comfortable with it, stressing that the whole incidence keep occuring on daily and hourly basis.
“From January to July 2025 alone, we have recorded over One Thousand cases from different NGO’S and as I am talking to you, we have a central body we called dash board where all cases were supposed to be reported and uploaded to the National Dash Board”,she said.
She however lamented that the ministry received a report of a father that rape his Nine year old daughter, the act has demoralized the girl, stating that it took the ministry time before the little girl open up, promising that the father will definitely be punished according to the law.
“.We also received a report of siblings sleeping with one another, father’s raping their own daughters. It has gone so bad”, Mrs Mary frowned.
According to her, “We have been carrying out sensitization to markets, mechanic workshops, Emirate Councils, Schools. We also have anti GBV in schools so that the students can report to their teachers,although,some of the violators are teachers and some are counsellors”.
She revealed that only few culprit have been arrested but, however regretted that the ministry is facing challenges with some parents who prefer to settle the rape case at the family level.
The Director also said the ministry is collaborating with security agencies and other stakeholders that are service providers so that anywhere they see and identify the culprits, they can be arrested and handed over to the law enforcement agencies for necessary action.
