Crime
Nasarawa inaugurate sexual assault referral centre, records 50 cases in 5 months
By David Okpashi
Warried by the increasing cases of sexual assault and abuse of the tenanageers and women in Nasarawa, the State Government has established and inaugurated a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) in Lafia.
This is coming after 50 sexual assault cases were recorded, offenders arrested between January and April this year where the offenders are facing prosecution in the state.
Speaking at the inauguration of the centre, the state governor Abdullahi Sule said the centre was established to address cases of gender-based violence in the state.
Governor Sule, represented by the Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Development,.
“The state government through the ministry has a situation room that monitors cases of gender based violence to ensure that the perpetrators are prosecuted to serve as deterrent”.
Also speaking at the inauguration of the centre, the wife of the governor, Hajiya Silifat Abdullahi Sule said the centre when fully operational would give hope to victims of sexual violence, treat and give them the needed support to get justice.
The wife of the governor added that provision of healthcare services was one of the topmost priority to the governor Abdullahi Sule-led administration.
She gave an assurance that the state government would continue to pay serious attention to issues of gender based violence in the state stating that in the last four years and would do everything possible to tackle the menace.
She said that records have shown that families members and neighbours were the perpetrators of most of the cases of sexual abuse in recent time.
The governor’s wife called on parents not to leave their children under the care of anybody no matter how related they are to them without monitoring
The governor’s wife said she would ensure a reduction in the abuse a woman and teenage girls as well as ensuring that punishment were meted out to the offenders to serve as deterrent to others with similar intentions.
Similarly, the state Commissioner for Justice, Abdulkarim Kana represented by Justina Allu, Director Public Defender at Gender Based Violence at the ministry said the establishment of the centre was a welcoming development.
The Justice Commissioner who decried unnecessary interference by community, traditional and religious leaders as well as highly placed persons was an impediment against getting justice for victims.
He appealed to victims and their families to always open up and also appealed to those leaders to desist from interfering with such cases to ensure smooth administration of justice and punishment of offenders.
On his part, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Dr Hassan Ikrama expressed gratitude to the governor, the first lady and the ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development for establishing the centre at the facility.
The CMD said the medical facility have been handling a lot of sexually related cases in the recent years and expressed worry on the increase of assault against women and girl-child in the state.
He assured that the facility would deploy qualified and sufficient personnel to work at the centre for optimal performance.