Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) through the Women Affairs Secretariat, has announced a distressing surge in Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases in the start of 2024.
The mandate secretary, Mrs Adedayo Benjamin-Laniyi, disclosed this yesterday at a press briefing to mark her 100 days in office.
She said a total of 3,072 cases were recorded and stressed the need for intensified efforts to combat the heinous crime and protect vulnerable individuals, particularly in the nation’s capital.
She explained that the increase in the number of reported cases of gender-based violence in the FCT was due to renewed confidence residents now have in the new authorities in charge of the FCTA.
Benjamins-Laniyi who restated her determination to leave no woman or adolescent behind, disclosed that they have had men come in to report abuses against them.
She said that the data reveals a worrying increase from the previous year and marks an alarming setback in the battle against GBV within the nation’s capital.
The secretary said the recorded cases cover a wide range of abuse, including domestic violence, sexual assault, rape, and other forms of violence against women and children.
According to her, “As at today, we have data of 3,072 Gender Based Violence, GBV, on the national dashboard in the FCT as of today, not in the country.”
On her 100 days in office, she said her first public outing in the secretariat was a grand gender-based Violence (BGV) sensitisation programme for wives of chiefs and area council chairmen in FCT.
“Consequently, in a recent ranking of States on GBV reporting on the National Dashboard by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, FCT emerged winner, as best reporting State on GBV, courtesy of the strategic approach to GBV reporting by the Women Affairs Secretariat under my watch,” she said.
