BY ADEYEMI AKANJI – Concerned over the statistics of being ranked among states with high cases of violence against women and children, the Gombe State Government has declared its readiness to change the narrative.
This is as it declared that it would not relent in its efforts at bringing to an end the rampant molestation and violence against women and children in the State.
This followed recent national statistics from authoritative demographic sources that showed Gombe State among States with high crimes against women and children with no laws in place to defend the vulnerable group.
The Commissioner of Police in charge of Gombe State, CP Maikudi Shehu, had told journalists that the Command receives no fewer than three cases of children being raped by adults as old as 60 years and above on a daily bases.
But the State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Naomi Awak, told journalists that the State Government is worried about the trend and would not rest on its oars to address the embarrassing social vice.
Awak said that considering the enormity of the cases in the State, the government had since sent a bill to the State House of Assembly that will make the offence attract various punishments as a deterrent to would be perpetrators of such crimes.
According to her; “Violence Against People Prohibition (VAPP) Law as well as the Child Right Act have passed second reading in the State legislature”.
She assured that as soon as it is passed into law, Governor Muhammad Yahaya would quickly assent to it owing to his concern and determination to address challenges faced by women.
Awak further said; “So many other ways the Governor has given priority to issues of women is the appointment of women in some sensitive positions in the State such as Commissioners, SSA’s and heads of some Government agencies and parastatals.
