Benue State recorded about 4,000 cases of Gender-Based Violence in the 2023.
In a report made known today the 8th February, 2024 by punch journalists and Editor, John Charles ,”the State Epidemiologist/Project Coordinator of COPREP, Dr Terungwa Ngishe, disclosed this on Wednesday in opening remarks during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on gender-based violence and sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment in the state.
“The MoU was signed between the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare and the Ministry of Health and Human Resources alongside other partners drawn from the Police, NAPTIP, NSCDC, Nigeria Bar Association and the International Federation of Women Lawyers, Benue State chapter.
The project coordinator disclosed that the figure may soon rise to 8,000 following the awareness being created but allayed people’s fear over the possible rise in the figure.
He explained that the awareness of gender-based violence became glaring and noticed during the lockdown occasioned by the COVID-19 epidemic in 2020.
He said, “In Benue State, we have over 4,000 recorded cases of gender based violence and this figure is before all the interventions we are having now.
“Before now traditional rulers who are custodian of culture have been sweeping these cases under the carpet and there is every possibility that this figure rises to 8,000 soon.
“The reason for this is because of the awareness that is being created and when this happens, you don’t need to panic.”
Similarly, the programme consultant, Dooshima Ageh, lamented that the incidences of wife battery, emotional abuse and wife estrangement are high.
He listed other incidences including children and spousal abuse.
She said, “During the 2020 lockdown, there were over 500 cases of violent acts reported between August and September 2020.
“Last year, 3,841 cases were reported in the State and captured on the Gender Based Violence Dashboard for Benue State.
“These cases include rape, spousal abuse, child abandonment, trafficking of persons, denial of resources, psychological/emotional abuse, battery, stalking, destruction of properties and denial of inheritance rights.
She added that these violent acts have led to the maiming, mental instabilities, deaths and discord in the communities.
She suggested the need to work together to eliminate gender-based violence and promote the human rights of women and girls in the State.
The signing of the MoU was to assist the two ministries and their partners to deliver on the expectation of the partnership which is to prevent and respond to GBV Cases.
