The Gombe State government has reiterated its commitment to a zero-tolerance stance on Gender-Based Violence (GBV), as key traditional and religious leaders signed a binding declaration to intensify efforts against the menace across the state.
The renewed commitment was announced at a stakeholders’ town hall meeting convened by the first lady of the state.
Addressing participants, the First Lady, Asma’u Yahaya, said the strong political will of Governor Muhammadu Yahaya and the state House of Assembly has positioned the state for stronger collaboration with donor agencies and national partners in tackling GBV.
She recalled that in 2022, the governor signed into law the Child Protection Law and the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law, both passed by the state legislature.
According to her, the enactment of the laws earned the state recognition at national and international levels and secured its selection as one of six pilot states in Nigeria for specialized GBV intervention programmes.
The first lady called on traditional and religious leaders to ensure that perpetrators of gender-based violence are exposed and prosecuted, stressing that the state has “no room for GBV monsters.”
She urged parents, guardians and community leaders to support the campaign by ensuring the safety of women and children in schools, markets, parks and other public spaces.
She also encouraged victims and caregivers to report cases to relevant authorities, noting that the social welfare department under the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare is fully equipped to handle such matters.
Asma’u commended 11 GBV survivors who voluntarily shared their experiences at the meeting, describing their courage as a source of encouragement for other victims to speak out.
In separate remarks, representatives of the traditional and religious institutions pledged full support for the anti-GBV campaign.
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Speaking on behalf of the Senior District Head of Gombe, Sammani Bappah, alongside representatives of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the leaders condemned rape and other forms of abuse, stating that such acts contradict Islamic, Christian and cultural values.
After taking an oath of commitment, the trio signed a binding document on behalf of traditional and religious leaders statewide, pledging to sensitize their communities on the cultural and religious prohibition of gender-based violence.
They also urged parents to closely monitor their children’s activities and associations.
