Abbas Declares Violence Against Women, Girls, Unacceptable

By: Michael Mike

The Speaker, House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas on Monday declared as unacceptable violence against women and girls in the country.

Abbas decried this year’s United Nations report that for every 10 minutes a woman is being killed across the world.

The Speaker who joined the United Nations organised walk against gender violence in the country, as part of the activities lined up for the 16 Days of Activism Campaign against Gender based Violence in Nigeria, called for actions to contain the ills against women.

The walk which was organised by the United Nations Women in collaboration with the House of Representatives as part of the 16 days of activisim, started at the National Assembly and terminated at the Police Headquarters in Abuja.

The Speaker assured the gathering that the House of Representatives will play an active role in the next national action plan against gender violence.

He said: “This year’s program came at a time when all over the world women are crying, women are in anger, women are in frustration. For this is the year the United Nations has issued a damn report that for every 10 minutes a woman is being killed across the world. This is an unacceptable trend.

“This is an unforgivable trend. We in the parliament must hope to unite more than ever before with relevant authorities, particularly the law enforcement in ensuring that we cut this dangerous trend to the barest minimum.

“I want to say it categorically clear here that the National Assembly will do everything humanly possible to ensure that all forms of violence against women and girls are drastically reduced if not completely eliminated in the very near future.

“I want to also announce that the National Assembly, particularly the House of Representatives, will play an active role in the next National Action Plan against women and violence that will be coming out very soon. We will send our representatives. We will also participate actively in ensuring that robust policies are enacted that will significantly reduce the incidence of violence of all kinds against women, against children, against girls.

“So it’s my pleasure, honourable colleagues, to declare these 16 days of activism to mark the elimination of women violence in Nigeria. We hope members of the press, our honorable colleagues and other partners will participate actively in the 16 days to show our own case, to make our own point that enough is enough. The time has come when violence of all kinds must stop.”

On his part, the Minister of Youth, Ayodele Olawande said the ministry will be establishing a help desk, specifically for the women, youth and girls whereby they can interact with the government.

He said that the current administration wants to ensure that the women and youth feel the government, adding that: “As a ministry, we have decided to also in coules of weeks time, we are going to have a young and secure which is women, youth and the Ministry of Youth will be coming up with help desk whereby all the youth in this country, most especially women and girls can communicate with us. We want to be with you. We want for the first time that the youth, women and girls feel the government.”

Speaking at the Police Headquarters, Hon. Kafilat Ogbara, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Women Affairs, urged the security outfit to join the fight against violence against women.

She said: “We are there to present a petition for immediate intervention, investigation and prosecution on gender based violence to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.

“We are calling on you to combat gender based violence during the 16 days of activism and beyond. We want to bring to your attention, the harrowing plight of Nigerian women.

“As study indicate that one in every three women globally are victims of gender based violence in Nigeria. Report of National Demographics amd Health survey, reveals that 30% of women between 15 to 29 have experienced physical violence, with many suffering abuse in the hands of partners.”

She therefore urged the IG to put the police across the country on red alert to ensure justice for gender based violence, stressing that they want justice, adding that the leadership of House of Representatives are unanimous on the point that there is no excuse for gender based violence.

In his response, the IGP said the occassion is a reminder that eradicating gender based violence is a collective effort, adding, “It is not by law enforcement actions alone that we can eradicate gender violence. It is a collective obligation of every one of us.
Gender based violence is a grimreality that has continued to devastate lives across the globe.

“Across the continent of Africa, countless of women and children have continued to suffer all kinds of abuses including domestic violence, sexual assault. There are some areas where the traditions also abuses the right of women. We have cases of genital mutilation amongst others.

“It is a collective efforts that we must all fight. We must all come.together, put our actions together to eradicate this unacceptable reality in our communities.”
He further assured the women that since 2006, the Nigeria Police Force had developed a gender policy which it has integrated into its global framework of policing.”

Abbas Declares Violence Against Women, Girls, Unacceptable

Nigerian Troops Repel ISWAP SVBIED Attack in Kukawa, Inflict Heavy Losses on ISWAP

By Zagazola Makama

Troops of Sector 3, operating under the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) and Operation Hadin Kai, have successfully thwarted a major assault by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in Kukawa, Borno State.

The attack, which involved the use of a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (SVBIED), ended in a decisive victory for the Nigerian military.

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the insurgents launched their attack with the SVBIED leading their assault team. However, the swift and strategic response of soldiers from the 101 Special Forces Battalion neutralized the immediate threat, triggering an intense gunbattle.

During the engagement, several ISWAP fighters were killed, while the terrorists were forced to abandon significant amounts of equipment and supplies as they fled.

The troops received air support from the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai, which carried out precision strikes on retreating ISWAP fighters. This aerial reinforcement helped to consolidate the military’s dominance, forcing the insurgents to retreat in disarray.

While the exact number of casualties among the insurgents remains undisclosed, troops recovered several pieces of equipment.

A Military intelligence sources said that ISWAP may attempt to regroup and retaliate, potentially targeting reinforcements or military bases using improvised explosive devices (IEDs) or ambush tactics.

Troops have therefore been advised to maintain heightened vigilance, particularly in anticipation of a possible attack on the military base in Malam Fatori.

Nigerian Troops Repel ISWAP SVBIED Attack in Kukawa, Inflict Heavy Losses on ISWAP

EU-RoLAC, State Judiciaries, Others  Identify Poor Inter-Agency Cooperation As Reasons For Slow Justice Delivery

By: Michael Mike

A gathering of more than 25 state Judiciaries and key stakeholders in the field convened in Ilorin at the weekend, pinpointing inadequate interagency collaboration within the nation’s judicial framework as the primary cause for the sluggish pace of justice administration in the country.

This was the highlight of the Network of Justice Reforms Teams (JTRTs) Conference organised by the EU-funded Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC II) Programme of International IDEA in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Justice (FMoJ).

The Conference noted that the deficiency of modern technologies has been recognized as a significant contributing factor to the substandard execution of justice in Nigerian courts and law enforcement procedures, as indicated by reports emerging from the conclusion of the Network of Justice Reforms Teams (JTRTs) retreat in Ilorin.

The JTRTs conference, spanning three days, united various criminal justice institutions to deliberate on justice sector reform, advocate for reform models, and establish new objectives for enhancing justice delivery in Nigeria. 

Representatives from the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committees (ACJMCs) were also in attendance. Over time, RoLAC and the FmoJ have hosted JRTs with the principal objective of fostering coordination in justice delivery.

Advocates of the retreat assert that these network meetings provide platforms for exchanging experiences and knowledge-sharing, leading to a wide array of reforms, including the adoption of the Administration of Criminal Justice Laws by all 36 states in the federation.

Speaking at the end of the Conference on Thursday, Dr Oluwatoyin Badejogbin, Project Manager Component 1 – Criminal Justice Reform of the RoLAC II Programme, International IDEA, spoke on the need to speed up justice delivery and decongest the correctional facilities.

Badejogbin said: “It is evident that congestion in correctional facilities and delays in criminal case prosecutions, as well as civil justice proceedings, stem from the lack of coordination within the criminal justice system.

“When crucial agencies fail to communicate effectively with one another, critical aspects are overlooked. One agency expects the other to fulfil certain responsibilities, while the other anticipates reciprocal actions, resulting in a breakdown of processes.”

“For instance, when the police and the Department of Public Prosecution fail to synchronize their efforts, criminal case files may not be submitted, or they are not returned to the police with the essential legal guidance. Consequently, suspects languish in custody, with no clarity on the status of their cases, leading to prolonged detention in correctional facilities.

“However, when there is seamless cooperation between these agencies, such gaps are mitigated,” he elucidated.

The RoLAC II coordinator highlighted that the primary objective of the retreat was to identify existing gaps and address them effectively by the conclusion of the justice reform team session.

“We anticipate that critical actions will be formulated and implemented, particularly at the state level, following this justice reform team gathering,” he remarked.

Further elaborating on the retreat, Prof. Mohammed Tabiu, a facilitator with RoLAC II, emphasized the added advantage of inclusivity, as the retreat engaged not only stakeholders from the Judiciary but also various other entities in a coordinated manner. 

“The emphasis on coordination, harmony, and collaboration rendered this retreat distinct.

“Throughout the three-day event, a diverse range of initiatives across states aimed at enhancing the administration of justice, particularly in criminal justice, were scrutinized. 

“RoLAC has been striving to harmonize these developments among states, ensuring adequate support for optimal outcomes. 

“The dissemination of lessons learned to other stakeholders will facilitate the widespread benefits of these endeavours across the country,” the professor said.

Earlier on Tuesday Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Federation, AFG, and the Kwara State governor, Mall. Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq emphasized that essential reforms are integral to President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s strategic agenda.

Fagbemi articulated: “As you are cognizant, the reform of the justice sector occupies a central position in this administration’s strategic agenda. 

“A key facet of our Renewed Hope Agenda is to drive judicial reforms to foster sustainable socio-economic growth and investment, underpinned by the rule of law, and to address the impediments hindering the dispensation of justice in our nation.

EU-RoLAC, State Judiciaries, Others  Identify Poor Inter-Agency Cooperation As Reasons For Slow Justice Delivery