Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, Ireti Kingibe, and the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, have urged stronger action against gender-based violence (GBV) in Nigeria, describing it as a persistent threat to women’s safety and participation in governance.
Their remarks came on Sunday in Abuja during an event marking the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
Kingibe called on Nigerian women to unite and demand greater inclusion in governance and policy-making, stressing that fear of abuse often deters women from active participation. “We, the women of Nigeria, must stand together. We have to be strong to end gender-based violence, for women’s inclusion in governance and policy-making, to be part of the development of Nigeria,” she said.
She added that ending GBV requires collective insistence: “I know that even people like me are sometimes afraid. So I can imagine how younger, more vulnerable women feel. And it can only stop when we all insist that it stop.”
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Represented by AIG Aishatu Abubakar-Baju, IGP Egbetokun reaffirmed the police’s commitment to protecting victims and prosecuting offenders. “The Nigerian police have zero tolerance for gender-based violence in any form, be it digital or physical,” he said, noting that a new GBV training manual has been launched and gender desks expanded to all police divisions to improve response.
Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, also highlighted the government’s focus on the welfare of women and children, noting that about 10 cases of sexual or gender-based violence are reported daily across the country, with minors accounting for eight out of every 10 cases.
The event emphasized the need for stronger enforcement of laws such as the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act and greater societal action to protect women and children from abuse.