William Attah, Gombe
Gombe State Government says it will not relent in its efforts at bringing to an end the rampant molestation and violence against women and children in the State.
Recent national statistics from authoritative sources shows that Gombe State is among States ranking high in crimes against women and children with no laws in place to defend these vulnerable groups.
The Gombe State Commissioner of Police, Maikudi Shehu, recently told journalists that they receive no fewer than three cases of children being raped by adults as old as sixty years and above on a daily bases.
But the State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Naomi JJ Awak, in an interview with our correspondent says the State Government is worried about the trend and would not rest on its oars to address the embarrassing social vice.
She said, considering the enormity of the cases in the State, the State Government had since sent a bill to the State House of Assembly that will make it an offense that attracts various punishments as a deterrent to would be perpetrators of such crimes.
According to her, the Violence Against People Prohibition (VAPP) Law as well as the Child Rights Act have already passed the second reading in the State legislature.
She assured that as soon as it is passed into law, the State Governor, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya would not waste time in assenting to it.
This assurance, she said, is based on the Governor’s concern and determination to address challenges faced by women thereby giving them top priority.
“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.
“He has also supported women’s participation in politics as many women were elected as Local Government Councillors and Chairman.
“Thousands of women have also enjoyed skills acquisition programmes as well as cash empowerment worth millions of naira aimed at alleviating their sufferings. Gombe women are really appreciative of what Governor Inuwa Yahaya is doing”, she stated.
