Violence against women, children: Police should create rape, sexual offences desks —Govs’ wives

Wives of governors of the 36 states of the federation have denounced violence against women and children in the country, calling for creation of rape and sexual offences desks in police stations nationwide, and ensure that appropriately trained personnel were designated to provide timely support for victims.

This was just as the governors’ wives called on state governors, the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly to facilitate the passage of enabling laws to protect women and children from violence and abuse.

They equally urged the Inspector General of Police to direct the Nigeria Police to treat rape and defilement cases with the speed and seriousness such cases deserved.

The governors’ wives made this call in a statement jointly signed by wife of the Chairman, Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), Mrs Bisi Fayemi; Chairman, Northern Governors’ Wives Forum, Mrs. Amina Abubakar and Chairman of Southern Governors’ Wives Forum, Mrs. Betty Obaseki, while throwing their support behind the First Lady, Hajia Aisha Buhari, on the need for the Federal Government to urgently take measures to stem increasing cases of violence against women and children.

The First Lady recently urged for action to be taken to forestall rising cases of sexual abuse against women and children in the country.

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The governors’ wives said the call became imperative due to daily reported cases of rape, violence, sexual harassment and murders of women and children, even as they urged the public to address this issue by supporting victims to get justice and breaking the culture of silence and stigma which prevented victims from coming forward to make claims.

The governors’ wives, while lamenting that even women and children with special needs had become targets of sexual violence, urged the Nigeria Police to be tactful and supportive in the handling of sexual offences and take measures to prevent the intimidation of victims by families and associates of suspects.

“As concerned mothers and citizens, we hereby call on the Inspector General of Police to direct the Nigerian Police to treat rape and defilement cases with the speed and seriousness such cases deserved in order to ensure justice for victims.

“We are also requesting that the Nigerian Police should be tactful and supportive in the handling of alleged sexual offences and take measures to prevent the intimidation of victims by families and associates of suspects,” they said.