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Parents, Community Leaders May be Prosecuted as Accomplice in Cases of Rape and Incense should they Shield Violators, Says NAPTIP
Parents, Community Leaders May be Prosecuted as Accomplice in Cases of Rape and Incense should they Shield Violators, Says NAPTIP
By: Michael Mike
The Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azi has warned communities against interfering in criminal prosecution of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV), insisting that cases of rape and incense are no go area for family and community leaders.
Waziri-Azi also threatened that parents may be prosecuted as accomplices in cases of rape and incense if they should cover up for the violators of the children and wards.
The NAPTIP boss lamented that many cases of rape and incense were prematurely dropped due to pressures from families and communities which forced victims to withdraw their complaints.
He decried that there are several records of cases that could not be prosecuted as violators were allowed to go scot-free when complainants showed disinterest in prosecution as a result of pressure from families and communities.
He said NAPTIP would soon work on propagation of law that would make it a crime for parents and communities to shield violators of SGBV, prosecuting them as accomplice in a criminal act.
Speaking on Thursday in Abuja at the commencement of FCT community dialogue and advocacy on Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) in the Six Area Councils starting with the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Waziri-Azi noted that the NAPTIP has recorded 1, 278 reported cases of Sexual and Gender Based Violence, (SGBV), in the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), with spousal battery being the highest complaint in the last one year.
The DG said that “In 2023, NAPTIP received 1, 278 complaints of sexual and gender-based violence in the FCT and top of the list was spousal battery. Our data shows that spousal battery is an issue in the FCT and that was the same trend and pattern that we saw in 2022.
“We also had complaints bordering on abandonment, where either husband, wife or both abandon their children.
“Also, inflicting physical injury on children and on domestic staff has been seen to be on the increase in the FCT.”
She explains that rape is also on the increase but compared to 2022 where it was the third highest reported SGBV case, the 2023 statistics showed that it is now the fourth most reported case.
On the number convictions by the agency, she explains that “In 2023, we secured four convictions. We know how hard it is to investigate and prosecute SGBV cases but these four convictions were very stringent. We have two life imprisonment for the first time ever, 25 years imprisonment and 21 years imprisonment each without the option of fine.”
She notes that the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act, ( VAPPA), of which NAPTIP is empowered to implement in addition to its protecting victims of trafficking in persons not only protects women and children, but all persons including men hence the erroneous view in some quarters.
“Intuitively most times, when people hear about the VAPP Act they automatically think that it is to protect just women and children but it protects all persons including men and boys
“In the past two years, we’ve seen incremental reportage of violence against men so men are beginning to realize that the system is not just there for women and the Act also empowers NAPTIP to implement the provisions in the FCT.”
“NAPTIP has enforcement powers, has prosecutorial powers and has protective mandate victims of human trafficking and survivors of sexual and gender based violence.l,” she adds.
Speaking on SGBV against older persons, Director General National Senior Citizens Centre, NSCC), Dr. Emem Omokaro, said “Older persons face a lot of stereotype , prejudice and discrimination all because they are old,” and that has led to series of violence against them.
Director, Social Welfare and Gender, FCT Social Secretariat, Aisha Yusufari, said community leaders can settled minor disagreement among couples in the society but when it comes to issues of life threatening violence, rape and incest, perpetrators must be reported to the authorities for necessary actions.
Parents, Community Leaders May be Prosecuted as Accomplice in Cases of Rape and Incense should they Shield Violators, Says NAPTIP
Army troops recover more arms, neutralise IEDs in sambisa forest offensive
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have recovered more arms and ammunition and detonated several improvised explosive devices (IEDs) during the ongoing Operation Desert Sanity V offensive in the Sambisa Forest area of Borno.
Zagazola report that the operation was carried out at about 9:00 a.m. on Dec. 29 by troops of 21 Special Armoured Brigade, in conjunction with volunteer forces.
According to the sources, the troops advanced from their harbour area and cleared several deserted terrorist enclaves around the Dure axis before proceeding to Century Wolf area, south of Dure.
The sources stated that the general area was characterised by thick vegetation, adding that no significant items of interest were found during the initial phase of the operation.
The sources said the troops later advanced to the Sabil Huda enclave, which was assessed to be highly active but had been abandoned by the terrorists before the arrival of troops.
The sources added that Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams commenced scanning of the enclave to enable exploitation by troops.
During the exploitation, the report said the troops recovered three AK-47 rifles, four AK-47 magazines, 37 rounds of 7.62x54mm ammunition, 38 rounds of 7.62x51mm ammunition, 33 rounds of 7.62x39mm ammunition and two hand grenades.
The sources said that life-support structures within the enclave were destroyed, while four additional IEDs discovered in the area were safely detonated.
Army troops recover more arms, neutralise IEDs in sambisa forest offensive
Troops recover drone after clash with ISWAP in Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have recovered a drone after engaging suspected ISWAP terrorists during a fighting patrol in Izge area of Borno.
Zagazola learnt thar the encounter occurred at about 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 30 in the Pridang general area.
The sources stated that troops deployed at Forward Operating Base Izge, were on a patrol in conjunction with volunteer forces when they came in contact with an unconfirmed number of terrorists on a surveillance mission.
According to the sources, the terrorists were suspected to be planning to deploy an ultra-light drone to monitor the activities of troops and local residents in the area.
The sources said the troops engaged the terrorists with overwhelming firepower, forcing them to abandon the drone and flee in disarray, possibly with gunshot wounds.
The sources added that the troops conducted exploitation of the area and recovered one drone along with its complete accessories.
End
PAN Workers Cry Out for Their Severances
By: Balami Lazarus
There had been an outcry recently by retired workers of Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (PAN) Kaduna on their entitlements that are yet to be settled.
However, PAN is working towards the payments of their severances to enable the company to move forward and face other corporate challenges.
The Managing Director, Mrs. Taiwo Oluleye, has made it clear that the company is making efforts to pay all entitlements of her retired workers as soon as possible.
Speaking recently with Barr. Adekemi Adebayo by phone, the company secretary/legal advisor, who said that PAN as a private company is faced with corporate challenges due to the current economic situation, “We are concerned with the plights of those who retired from the company.” The management is making efforts on the payments of their severances. Adekemi informed NEWSng that PAN recently paid some retired staff their entitlements.
In her capacity as Secretary/Legal Adviser, Adebayo further said, “There is hope for the automobile industry in Nigeria.
Likewise our workers, including those that left,” she emphasized.
A worker who pleaded for anonymity said that he left the company in 2024 but has not been paid. “We are in tight financial difficulties. Our expectations are becoming a nightmare,” he said.
NEWSng investigations revealed that the automobile industry in Nigeria is faced with challenges of lack of government support and laws to give her proper protection to operate in the economy.
End
Troops arrest suspected insurgents’ logistics supplier in Borno
Army troops recover more arms, neutralise IEDs in sambisa forest offensive
Troops destroy three terrorist camps, recover weapons in Sambisa forest
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