Nigeria’s ongoing battle against gender-based violence received renewed national attention on Sunday as leading government officials, including the Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, Ireti Kingibe, and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, urged stronger joint action to address rising cases of abuse.
Okay News reports that the statements were delivered in Abuja during a major programme commemorating the annual global campaign known as the Sixteen Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, observed worldwide to push governments to protect vulnerable groups.
Gender-based violence, which includes sexual assault, domestic attacks, child defilement, and online abuse, continues to be a major public health and human rights challenge across Nigeria. Rights groups and international organisations have repeatedly warned that the number of incidents is increasing across both urban and rural communities. Several studies also show that many victims refuse to report cases due to fear of community stigma, retaliation by abusers, or lack of confidence in the enforcement of existing laws such as the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act. The Act is still not fully implemented in all states, which experts say continues to weaken accountability and protection.
In her address, Senator Kingibe called on Nigerian women across all regions, age groups, and social backgrounds to unite and demand stronger inclusion in leadership and policy-making. She said persistent fear created by growing violence has discouraged many women from participating fully in national development efforts.
She said, “We, the women of Nigeria, must stand together. We have to be strong to end gender-based violence, for women’s inclusion in governance and policy-making, to be part of the development of Nigeria.”
She further urged women to take deliberate action rather than wait for opportunities to be offered automatically. She added, “Nobody is going to wake us and say, ‘Come.’ We have to demand it. We have to show that we are up for it. Gender-based violence is one of those things that deters women.
“I know that even people like me are sometimes afraid. So I can imagine how younger, more vulnerable women feel. And it can only stop when we all insist that it stop.”
The senator insisted that Nigerian women must play a front-line role in the country’s future political and development journey. “So, my sisters, this is just one battle. We have several others. We achieve everything that we want to achieve. Women must be part of the journey and sit at the table,” she said.
Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, represented at the ceremony by Assistant Inspector General of Police Aishatu Abubakar-Baju, pledged that the Nigeria Police Force remains committed to assisting victims and prosecuting offenders without delay. He noted that the institution has intensified reforms aimed at strengthening accountability.
“On behalf of all the policemen and policewomen, I want to reassure Nigerians that the Inspector General of Police and every police officer understands that ‘No’ means No,” he said.
He added that survivors who report incidents at any division would be treated with respect, saying, “If you come to our station or division, I want to assure you that the Nigerian police have zero tolerance for gender-based violence in any form, be it digital or physical.”
The police chief disclosed that the force has introduced a new comprehensive gender-based violence training manual and expanded specialised gender desks to every police division nationwide to improve both response speed and survivor support.
Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, emphasised that the present administration has placed the protection of women and children at the frontline of national priorities. She said, “There is no room for abuse in our families, communities, and society. For the first time in the history of Nigeria, we have a president who has characterised the welfare and the well-being of the citizens.”
She stated that the government is prepared to take all necessary steps to ensure that women and children are protected. “We’re ready to do whatever it takes to ensure that we’re protected and to support the image of the Nigeria of our dreams, where everybody is protected,” she said.
The minister revealed that an average of ten cases of sexual or gender-based violence are reported every day across Nigeria, with minors representing eight out of every ten victims.
