In an effort to mitigate the increased cases of rape among other violence, the European Union (EU), Managing Conflicts in the Northeast Nigeria (MCN) has launched a protocol that would guide Sexual and Gender Base Violence (SGBV) investigations and prosecutions in Yobe state.
Making the symbol presentation of the copies of the 27-page protocol guide to state government and Yobe state command of the Nigeria Police Force in Damaturu, the state team leader of the MCN in the state, Sambo Abdulkadir, said efforts were part of the activity to mark the 16 days of activism against SGBV.
“We have been doing alots around the Sexual and Gender Base Violence in Yobe state, but the cases keep rising, young girls and boys were being defiled and the perpetrators go free as a result of lack of specimens, evidence and investigation.
“So we felt it would be good we develop a protocol to support all those who are into the administration of criminal justice to reduce the rising cases of SGBV in the state,” he said
The Standard Operating Procedure which was developed in collaboration with state Ministry of Justice, Nigeria Police Force and the steering committee of the six sexual assault referral centres across the state, had undergone rigorous screenings to ensure it work in conformity with other laws in the state.
In their responses, the Attorney-General and the Commissioner of Justice in the State, Barr. Saleh Samanja, and the representative of the Commissioner of Police in the state DCP Victor Olaya said the protocol guide would be distributed across divisions and courts in the state to speed up judgements.
The programme which is implemented under British Council had also flagged-off other initiatives such as mobilising social media influencers and stakeholders to raise voice against all forms of SGBV and to ensure victims get justice as at when due.
