Governor Aminu waziri of Sokoto State has been called upon to declare State of Emergency on Gender Based Violence particularly rape and other forms of sexual exploitations in the state.
The call was contained in a statement by Deputy National Coordinator, North West Zone, and Association of Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Nigeria as well as Association of NGOs in Nigeria Sokoto state office Dr. Abdulganiyu Abubakar.
Dr. Abubakar said Sokoto State in the past was credited to be the most peaceful state in Nigeria, saying that the narrative was gradually changing.
In the last couple of Months, prior to and during the COVID-19 lockdown, Sokoto State recorded increased incidences of criminal activities including Gender Based Violence particularly Sexual Abuse, Exploitation, Rape and defilement of Minors.
He said as at the last Coordination Meeting of the EU/UN Spotlight Initiative Project in Sokoto State held on Thursday 20th August 2020, over 255 cases of GBV were recorded by the Sokoto State Gender Based Violence and Child Protection Response Team.
He said that was in addition to very many cases that were never reported, compromised or settled at the level of Community and Security Agencies.
State and Non State Actors including Community and Religious Institutions have a critical Role to Play in changing this unenviable narrative, Dr. Abubakar said.
He commended the Non State Actors, Community Structures and the EU/UN Spotlight Initiative Project for Providing Counselling and other services for Survivors of GBV.
Despite these efforts, not much has been achieved in the area of speedy dispensation of Justice and Victim compensation, he complained.
He said Sokoto State currently has a lawyer as its Governor as well as an Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, who is not just an ordinary legal practitioner but a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
This, he said, should impact positively on the administration of Justice in Sokoto State.
While applauding the Sokoto state government for providing an enabling environment for CSOs and Development Partners to operate in the State, also called on the government to coordinate a Meeting of all security agencies in the State to clarify their mandate, roles and responsibilities in providing security and speedy dispensation of Justice to survivors of the GBV.
Dr. Abubakar also called on Sokoto State Government to clarify the stand, role and responsibilities of the Sokoto State Hisbah.
He also called on the increase budgetary allocation and prompt release of funds to state institutions that have mandate to support women and children while urging the government to key into the open Governance Partnership to strengthen the state’s efforts towards accountable and responsive Governance.