Kaduna State has recorded no fewer than 748 reported cases of emotional and psychosocial abuse and 349 cases of physical assault in 2023.
The Commissioner for Human Services and Social Development (MHSSD), Hajiya Rabi Salisu, said this at a second biannual shared learning event and dialogue session on Public Private Partnership (PPP) and private sector engagement (PSE) on Tuesday, in Kaduna.
Salisu, represented by Hajiya Maryam Muazu, the Director, Youth Development Department of the ministry said the data was a combination of males and females who were victims of the types of Sexual and Gender- Based Violence (SGBV), within January to December 2023 in the state.
She added that the emotional and psychosocial abuses, which have a high rate, representing 37.7 per cent were perpetrated within survivors’ family members or those very close to them like husbands, fathers, wives among others.
She said that of physical assaults, which were less, represented 17.6 per cent.
Salisu explained that there were different types of SGBV, where people only know rape, however adding that there was a high number of domestic violence, which is a a type of emotional and psychosocial violence.
“Kaduna state is now 5th in the national dash board in spite of joining it in March 2023. We met other state who joined three years ago and were even supported by partners to report data.
“We, however joining recently are now 5th among the 36 states and Abuja in terms of reporting SGBV data,” Salisu said.
The commissioner said that the state’s feat in reporting in the national dash board meant that it had broken the culture of silence where people shy away from reporting cases.
She also said that the data helped the state in terms of service provision, which saw the provision of shelter homes, psychosocial support by providing medical services and justice for survivors.
The commissioner also disclosed that about 25 cases of SGBV had been prosecuted, which was also a success story.
Salisu added that the passage of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law (VAPP), in 2018 saw the establishment of Sexual Assault and Referral Centres (SARC) in senatorial zones of the state as a testament of government’s committment in tackling SGBV.
“We also have additional mini SARC in Rigasa, Igabi LGA which has high prevalence of SGBV.
“The centre is coordinating the one stop shop activities of providing security for investigating and arresting perpetrators and ensure survivors access medical services to ensure early evidence are collated and quick medical attention given to them,” she said.
She urged the public not to shy away from reporting SGBV cases however who is involved, so as justice would be served to deter others from perpetrating the acts.
Also, Mr Sidikat Adegboye, SARC Manager of Yusuf Dan Tsoho Hospital, Tudun Wada, said the centre recorded 880 reported cases of SGBV on females and 297 on males from March 2019 to December 2023.
She added that 1,091 cases on children and 97 on adults were reported within the same duration.
Adegboye also said that rape perpetrated on children had 793 reported cases; 47 for adults and 337 cases of psychological/emotional and physical violence.
Giving a presentation on the challenges impeding service delivery at SARC, she lamented the dearth of drugs and consumables used in providing medical services, which is in short supply to meet survivors’ needs.
Adegboye also lamented compromise of cases by relatives and traditional leaders without regard to the traumatic experience of surivors especially children and financial inducement of parents/guardians to influence parents/guardians to drop allegations of rape against perpetrators.
“There is also frustration by the judicial system leading to loss of sustained interest in prosecution, among others,” she stated.
She, however, said in spite of the challenges, all incomers in the centre have all benefitted from either medical, psychosocial counselling, social services or legal counselling according to their needs.
Earlier, Mrs Hannatu Ahuwan, the Acting Executive Director Legal Awareness for Nigerian Women (LANW), said the event was aimed to further seek support for the SARCs from private sector organizations in Kaduna State.
According to her, government is not able to meet all the needs in addressing SGBV, hence the need to engage private sector resident within the state to support SARCs with what they need to provide adequate services to survivors of SGBV.
Ahuwan, therefore, said the overall objective is aimed at improving service delivery to survivors of SGBV.
VON
