By Henry Ibya, Makurdi
A non-governmental organisation, NGO, Concerned Women International Development Initiative, CWIDI, has requested collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, to assist them seek intervention on issues of gender based violence to help marginalized women in the country, particularly those in Benue State to have access to justice.
Speaking during an advocacy visit to mark the one week sensitization exercise organised by the group held at the A Division police station yesterday in Makurdi, senior programme officer CWIDI,Becky Gbihi, lauded efforts of the police in the fight against criminality with cases of gender based violence inclusive.
The senior programme officer, CWIDI, also lamented that commercial sex workers have undergone the worst injustice, emphasizing that most at time those in this category of business are rapped multiple times in the hands of their customers.
In her contribution programme management specialists of the organization Precious Ifan, said it was realized through research that women are unable to report cases of rape, sexual harassment, battering and other related violent issues for fear of stigmatization, stressing that CWIDI,is seeking synergy with the police so that the police would be more friendly with women by giving them due attention and their cases treated fairly each time they come to the police to report such cases.
Speaking separately, head of family and gender unit DSP Ebogu, and Inspectors Grace Sunday, Gloria Atoba and Achenetu Jibrin all blamed parents’ refusal to report gender based issues such as rape on account of stigmatization.
Responding the DPO A Division, CSP Iliasu Mohammed represented by the officer in charge of administration ASP Zhattau Andrew, assured the group of the resolve of his division to collaborate with them to ensure that justice is delivered to women
