First Lady Hails Collaboration with Police, Urges Uncompromised Handling of SGBV Cases.

By Zainab Faruq

The Bauchi State chief judge, Justice Rabi Talatu Umar has assured the Bauchi State action committee on sexual and gender based violence of the support of the judiciary in the fight against sexual and gender based violence in the state.

She said to ensure speedy dispensation of Justice, Bauchi State judiciary has established four gender based violence special courts, three in the magistrate court and one in the high court with a view to make sure that all culprits of violence regardless of the gravity of their offences are tried in the court.

Justice Rabi Talatu Umar stated this when she received the Bauchi State Action Committee on sexual and gender based violence led by the State First Lady Hajiya Aishatu Bala Abdulkadir Muhammad, who paid a courtesy visit.

Correspondent Zainab Faruk, who was among the entourage reports that the visit is part of a series of activities to commemorate 16 days of activism against gender based violence on women and girls.

Represented by Justice Abubakar Mukhtar, the chief judge also assured the committee of the commitment of the Bauchi State judiciary to ensure that justice is done to all victims of sexual and gender based violence as justice is what keeps society together, as well as a panacea to peace and development.

The entourage was also at the Bauchi state police command headquarters on a similar mission and were received by the state police commissioner with assurance of his total support in the crusade of reducing the menace of sexual and gender based violence to the bearest minimum.

The police commissioner, commended the first lady for supporting the gender unit of the command which according to him has helped in no small measure in the smooth running of activities of the unit.

The Bauchi State first lady, Hajiya Aishatu Bala Abdulkadir Muhammad said , the committee in the last three years has been working in close collaboration with the gender unit of police command, and commended the zeal and commitment with which it has been responding to SGBV cases.

She added that the committee in collaboration with the ministry of women affairs, and child development has successfully intervened in 265 cases of rape and unnatural offences mostly involving minors

While assuring of her continues support in breaking the culture of silence by building confidence in survivors and relatives of SGBV victims, Hajiya Aishatu Bala Abdulkadir Muhammad also appealed to the police chief to ensure that SGBV cases are not compromised regardless of the relationship or influence of the suspect