THE Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Mandate Secretary for Women, Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, has expressed concern over the rising cases of gender-based violence (GBV) in the country’s capital, which she said had seen 2,344 reported cases so far in 2023.

Benjamins-Laniyi said this after a meeting with stakeholders in Abuja on Thursday, November 23, ahead of activities for a 16-day activism against GBV, which is expected to kick off on November 25.   

She also decried the challenges associated with reporting incidents of GBV and the difficulties in raising awareness about it.

She said the FCT planned to use the national GBV dashboard to create awareness of the underreporting and state of the crisis across the city.

She said: “From a thousand reported cases of sexual and gender-based violence (SGV), it has now shot up to 2,344 as of today.”

Gender-based violence is a frequent occurrence in Nigeria, especially against women and girls.

It comprises a multifaceted issue deeply rooted in societal norms and cultural dynamics. It also encompasses various forms of abuse, including physical, sexual, emotional, and economic violence, disproportionately affecting women and girls.

On September 3, The ICIR reported how pre-teen girls in the FCT were tortured and made to endure breast ironing to make them look unattractive due to the fear of rape and other forms of sexual abuse.

Of the number who reported their experiences, fewer than five per cent received any form of support, data from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) shows.

The ICIR reports that the Federal Government has repeatedly promised to establish specialised courts to hasten the trial of SGBV offenders. The pledge has yet to come to fruition.

Mustapha USMAN

Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: umustapha@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M