BENIN CITY – The ordeal of the 14 year Ese Oruru who was abducted in Bayelsa and forced into marriage by one Yunusa Dahiru (alias Yellow) in Kano, came under sharp focus at a one-day sensitization workshop in Benin City on Thursday, even as participants commended the Nigeria Police and called for the immediate prosecution of all the culprits involved in the barbaric act.
The workshop on “Curbing Sexual and Gender based violence in Nigeria” was put together by the Nigeria Police, CLEEN Foundation and Ford Foundation and had as its theme “Break the Silence, Stop the Violence”. It drew participants from several Civil Society Organisations (CSO’s), the Nigeria Police, Media, Government and other Stakeholders including Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO’s).
The Inspector General of Police, IGP Solomon Arase represented by Mrs Mairo Adebalogun, Gender Officer, Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department, Nigeria Police, Abuja, said the project was aimed at building the capacity of the Police in responding promptly to sexual and gender based violence and create the enabling platform for people to report gender-based violence.
On his part, the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Ezike represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department, Edo Police Command, Mr. Donald Awona described sexual and gender-based violence as a global phenomenon which must be tackled with the effective collaboration of other bodies outside the police force, stressing that existing laws must be strengthened to convict perpetrators.
Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, represented by the Senior Special Assistant on CSO’s, Comrade Kayode Efosa described as apt, the theme of the workshop, given the propensity of gender-based violence in Nigeria and commended the Nigeria Police, CLEEN Foundation and Ford Foundation for agreeing to partner to fight the monster.
He said Edo State government has over the years provided the conducive environment for CSO’s to thrive in the state to fight all manner of injustices, including sexual and gender violence.
Also speaking, Edo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Kassim Afugbua represented by Director of Orientation in the Ministry, Mrs. Julie Eki, said the remarkable progress in the global fight against sexual and gender-based violence needs to be sustained to ensure reduction and possible eradication in the society and commended the effort of the police, the organisers of the workshop, the federal, state and local governments aimed at minimising the wild spread of the menace. He pledged the support of the Ministry.
Papers were presented at the workshop by Augustine Mamedu (Chief Justice Consultant, UNICEF) on “Legal Perspective of Women and Children’s Rights in Nigeria” and the Chairperson of Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Edo State, Barr (Mrs). Marie Edeko whose exposition centred on “Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act as Advocacy Tool in curbing Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in Nigeria. Both papers formed the basis of group discussions, Questions, Answers, Comments and Goodwill messages.
Ese Oruru
