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Abbas Declares Violence Against Women, Girls, Unacceptable
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
NAPTIP Vows Tough Crackdown on Traffickers in 2026 as 93 Convicted in 2025
By: Michael Mike
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has warned that 2026 will be an extremely difficult year for human traffickers operating in the country, as the agency intensifies its crackdown on trafficking networks across Nigeria.
The Director-General of NAPTIP, Hajiya Binta Bello made this known in Abuja while reviewing the agency’s activities in 2025 and outlining its operational plans for 2026.
Bello disclosed that in 2025, NAPTIP secured the conviction of 93 human traffickers, describing the achievement as significant given the complexity of prosecuting trafficking cases.
She also stated that the agency intercepted over 2,500 potential victims who had been deceived and recruited for various forms of exploitation within and outside Nigeria, adding that many of them were rehabilitated and reintegrated into society.
According to her, the agency’s increased surveillance and coordination among its commands led to a rise in rescues, arrests, and successful prosecutions during the year. She noted that traffickers were effectively disrupted, with several high-profile suspects arrested and convicted.
Among those apprehended were operators of some orphanages and care homes allegedly involved in trafficking and exploitation of children. Bello said over 120 suspected trafficked children were rescued from such facilities.
She further revealed that in collaboration with international partners, NAPTIP rescued more than 370 Nigerian victims from countries including Ghana, Senegal, and Côte d’Ivoire.
Looking ahead to 2026, the NAPTIP boss said the agency would scale up its operations by strengthening partnerships with other security agencies, civil society organizations, and development partners. She also pledged closer collaboration with federal, state, and local governments, including the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), to improve grassroots monitoring and prevention.
Bello emphasized that NAPTIP would work more closely with the legislature and judiciary to ensure stronger legal backing and faster prosecution of traffickers.
She added that within the first weeks of 2026, NAPTIP had already secured three convictions and warned that more traffickers would face jail unless they abandon their criminal activities.
The Director-General reiterated the agency’s commitment to nationwide awareness campaigns, particularly in rural communities, to reduce vulnerability and protect potential victims from traffickers.
NAPTIP Vows Tough Crackdown on Traffickers in 2026 as 93 Convicted in 2025
NEDC Deploys ₦3bn Ophthalmic Equipment, Begins Training at Maiduguri Eye Hospital
By: Michael Mike
The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has commenced a two-week Ophthalmology Equipment Set-Up and Training Programme at the Maiduguri Eye Hospital in Borno State, following the deployment of advanced eye-care equipment valued at over N3 billion.
The programme, which began on Monday, marks a major step in the Commission’s efforts to improve specialist healthcare delivery and address preventable blindness across the North-East region.
Activities on the first day included the installation, calibration, and coupling of cutting-edge ophthalmic equipment, alongside the start of hands-on technical and clinical training sessions. The exercise is aimed at ensuring the newly supplied equipment is fully operational and optimally configured for effective eye-care services.
The training is being led by Prof. Abdull Mohammed Mahdi, a Chief Consultant in Ophthalmology, with support from Dr. Abuh Sunday, also a Chief Consultant, and a multidisciplinary team of experts in ophthalmology and biomedical engineering.
Participants include consultant ophthalmologists, resident doctors, ophthalmic nurses, optometrists, and biomedical engineers from the Maiduguri Eye Hospital and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH). They will receive intensive practical training on the operation, maintenance, and efficient use of the equipment.
According to the NEDC, the initiative is expected to significantly enhance the hospital’s diagnostic and surgical capacity, particularly in the management of cataract and glaucoma cases. The Commission noted that the intervention aligns with its long-term objective of transforming Maiduguri Eye Hospital into a regional centre of excellence for ophthalmic care.
In addition to the equipment deployment and training, the Commission is undertaking extensive renovation and infrastructure upgrades at the hospital to support modern clinical operations and improve patient experience.
The NEDC is also extending similar ophthalmic interventions across other states in the North-East. Of note is the ongoing construction of an ultra-modern Eye Institute at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) in Bauchi, which commenced last year and is scheduled for accelerated implementation this year.
Officials of the Commission described the intervention as a strategic investment that combines modern medical infrastructure with deliberate human capacity development, noting that the ₦3 billion equipment deployment and training programme will have a lasting impact on access to quality eye-care services in the region.
NEDC Deploys ₦3bn Ophthalmic Equipment, Begins Training at Maiduguri Eye Hospital
NSCDC personnel, 16 others arrested in raid of criminal hideout in Yobe
By: Zagazola Makama
Security operatives in Yobe State have raided a notorious criminal hideout in the Saman Tudu area of Pompomari District, Damaturu, arresting a personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and 16 other suspects.
A reliable source told Zagazola Makama that the raid was carried out on Jan. 18 at about 7:20 p.m. following a coordinated, intelligence-driven operation targeting criminal elements who use the area as a haven.
The source said the enclave served as a convergence point for trafficking and consumption of illicit drugs, as well as planning and execution of various criminal activities within the community.
“During the operation, the team stormed and ransacked the hideout, leading to the arrest of 17 suspects, including one Mohammed B. Kolo, identified as an NSCDC personnel attached to the Yobe State Command,” the source said.
He added that exhibits recovered from the scene included a knife, five bicycles, dried leaves suspected to be cannabis sativa, hemp wrapping papers, a long sack used as a mat and the sum of N8,500 found inside a sack suspected to contain the drugs.
The suspects are currently in custody while investigation is ongoing to determine their level of involvement in criminal activities.
The source said those found culpable would be charged to court for prosecution after the conclusion of investigations.
Residents were urged to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information to sustain the fight against crime in the state.
NSCDC personnel, 16 others arrested in raid of criminal hideout in Yobe
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