ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi
Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed has described sexual and gender-based violence as a pandemic which must be urgently tackled.
The governor who was speaking when the State Action Committee on Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) led by his wife, Hajiya Aisha Mohammed, paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Bauchi on Tuesday.
He warned that he will not spare anyone found to have been involved in sexual and gender based violence in the state.
He vowed that anyone found to be involved in SGBV in the state will be not be spared no matter how highly placed they may be but will be made to face the full wrath of the law to serve as a deterrent to others.
The governor apologized for freeing some inmates including a serial rapist during the COVID-19 lockdown.
NATIONAL ACCORD had reported that a serial rapist, Yusuf Bako, was arrested by the Police for allegedly raping a four-year-old girl inside a mosque in Bauchi.
“Gender Based Violence has become a pandemic and that of Bauchi, unfortunately, I understand after sometimes through the Ministry of Justice that we have pardoned a serial rapist. We must apologize to the women folks for doing this. It is not our wish to do that.
“Had it been I was aware of that, I wouldn’t have done that. He would have served his full jail term. I didn’t know, I wouldn’t have appended my signature.”
The governor directed the Secretary to the State Government to make the Committee, which consists of female legal practitioners, Police and other civil society organisations, a Standing Committee under his (SSG’s) office.
He commended his wife for setting up the committee pointing out that it will go a long way in sensitizing communities on the dangers associated with sexual and gender based violence.
“I have listened with a lot of interest on very important issues of violence against women, violence against vulnerable. I think this is a very good initiative.
“First, I must once again thank the State House of Assembly for coming up with VAPP law. This has become a scourge in Nigeria not only in Bauchi,” he said.
Mohammed added that: “The Violence Against Persons Prohibition law has set all that needs to be done to protect victims of sexual gender based violence.
“I am happy with the advocacy set up by my dear wife because I believe that it is the only way to go. We will do everything possible to protect our women folks and children. Bauchi will be at the front banner in fighting the menace.”
He said that the state government will institutionalise the activities of the committee so as to discharge its responsibilities effectively.
The First Lady, Hajiya Aisha Bala Mohammed, who spoke earlier, advocated for the establishment of a special mobile court to ensure speedy trial of offenders of sexual and gender based violence and strengthen the operational capacity of the committee.
She said that the courtesy visit was to intimate the Governor on the activities of the committee with a view to soliciting for his support in order to achieve the desired objectives.
The First Lady said that the increase in the number of sexual and gender based violence in the state motivated her to form the committee as part of her concern for the plight of women and children.
Also speaking, the Chairperson of the committee, Esther Ahmed, commended Governor Mohammed for bed by gender responsive particularly his support for the First Lady as she champions the cause of women in the state.
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