Kano Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) has disclosed that 159 cases of Sexual Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) were allegedly reported to the centre amidst the Covid-19 lockdown imposed on the state.
The Centre in a statistic made available to journalists on Thursday revealed that from April to July 2020, 49 male and 111 female who were victims of SGBV received medical attention at the Centre.
According to accounts rendered by the Centre, the affected SGBV victims in four months are, 17 males in April, 19 females in May, 5 males, 7 females in June, 64 females, 13 males in July 14 males, 21 females in August.”
The chairman, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, Kano state chapter, Bilkisu Ado Zango, expressed worries over the steady rise in the number of SGBV cases in the state.
Zango said “the issue is getting out of hand, it is now an ugly event, the inhuman treatment is worrisome.
“The issue of SGBV is disturbing, we are bringing together state and non-state actors to pull our weight against this menace,” Zango stated.
The Kano NAWOJ chairperson revealed that the state chapter of women journalists would collaborate with civil society organisations to fashion out the best legal approach to tackle the matter.
According to Zango, women journalists and civil societies have commenced the work of advocating for stiffer penalties on offenders.
“We have forwarded our message to the executive governor of Kano state, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, also at same NAWOJ level, we have visited the Rt. Hon Speaker Kano state House of Assembly and all other critical stakeholders and they have assured us of their support.
“Very very soon we will be holding a larger forum meeting, where at the end we will issue a communiqué with a strong voice, to denounce, the evil currently ongoing in the society,” Zango said.
