Ogun, Police Join Forces To Fight Gender-based Violence, Women’s Protection

Ogun State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Motunrayo Adeleye, has emphasised the need for closer collaboration with the Nigeria Police to tackle the increasing incidents of gender-based violence and to strengthen the protection of women, children, and other vulnerable groups.

The Commissioner made the appeal on Tuesday during a courtesy visit to the Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, at the Ogun State Command Headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokuta.

Adeleye disclosed this in a statement she signed on Wednesday, where she described the engagement as a crucial step toward strengthening collaboration between the Ministry and the Police.

She noted that the partnership was essential to ending abuse, exploitation, and gender-based violence across the state.

“Over the years, we have handled numerous cases of gender-based violence, child neglect, and abuse where police intervention was crucial. While we have enjoyed strong cooperation in many instances, there have also been reports of victims being asked to bear the cost of investigations or transportation to court.

“In some unfortunate cases, out-of-court settlements were encouraged, denying victims the justice they deserve. These gaps require urgent and deliberate reform,” she said.

The commissioner praised the State Judiciary for its dedication to justice delivery and disclosed that her ministry was collaborating with judicial authorities to fast-track cases related to gender-based and child violence.

She further revealed that advocacy efforts were ongoing for the establishment of special courts in all judicial divisions to ensure the swift handling of such cases.

Highlighting current interventions, Adeleye noted that the state has set up Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) across its four zones, along with Women Development Centres dedicated to rehabilitating and empowering survivors.

In his response, the Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, commended Adeleye’s proactive leadership, describing her as a dedicated and passionate public servant, adding that all GBV cases would be managed directly at the State Command Headquarters, with officers undergoing specialized training to improve professionalism and ensure accurate data management.

Gender-based violence continues to be a major challenge in Nigeria, with hundreds of reported cases of physical, sexual, and domestic abuse occurring daily.

Despite the existence of laws such as the 2015 Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act, significant challenges remain, including low prosecution rates and uneven enforcement across states.

Between 2020 and 2023, Nigeria recorded 27,698 GBV cases, which led to over 1,000 deaths, yet only a small number of offenders were convicted.