By TYAV SAM TYAV, Makurdi –
A Non Governmental Organisations, (NGO), Concerned Women International Development Initiative (CWIDI), has indicated interest to seek collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to assist them on issues of Gender Based Violence (GBV) to help marginalized women in the country, particularly those in Benue State to have access to justice.
The senior programme officer of CWIDI, Becky Gbihi, who spoke during an advocacy visit to mark the one week sensitization exercise organised by the group held at the A Division police station on Monday in Makurdi.
He lauded the efforts of the police in the fight against criminality with cases of gender based violence inclusive.
The programme officer recalled with satisfaction that the police in the past has championed the fight on cases of sexual harassment, battery and assault on women, stressing that CWIDI, felt expedient to seek 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.
Gbihi who also lamented that commercial sex workers have under gone the worst injustice, emphasized that at several instances those in this category of business are raped multiple times in the hands of their customers but argued that despite their profession which might be viewed negative in the eyes of others, as humans they should also be protected by the law.
While appealing to the police to always listen to complaints of victims of gender based violence including commercial sex workers especially on the merits of such cases to avoid stigmatization.
Contributing the programme management specialists of the organization Precious Ifan, said research had proved that women feel reluctant to report cases of rape, sexual harassment, battery and other related violent issues for fear of stigmatization, stressing that CWIDI,is seeking to collaborate with the police so that the police would be more friendly with women by given them due attention and their cases treated fairly each time they come to the police to report such cases.
In their separate speeches, 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 appealed to the victims of sexual assault and rape to go to the police and report immediately, any time they suffer such violation for the police to swing into action, instead of waiting for several months before going to report.
The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), A Division, CSP Iliasu Mohammed represented by the officer in charge of administration, ASP Zhattau Andrew, assured the group of the resolve of the division to collaborate with them to ensure that justice is delivered to women who suffer gender based violence such as sexual assault.
He appreciated the group for the visit and encouraged women who are sexually assaulted to feel free to go to any police station and report at the counter like any other case for investigation to unravel the suspects for possible punishment to serve as deterrent.
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