The Plateau State Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission (GEOC) has called for strengthened case management, improved referral pathways and full implementation of gender protection laws as stakeholders gathered to mark the 2025 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
The engagement, held on December 5, 2025, at Enayi Hotel, Zarmaganda, Jos South, brought together representatives from security agencies, the Ministry of Justice, NAPTIP, the Child Protection Network, civil society organisations, and community-based responders. This year’s global theme is “End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls.”
GBV Consequences Cannot Be “Forgiven Away” — GEOC Chairperson
In her agenda-setting remarks, Barr. Olivia Dazyam, Acting Chairperson of GEOC, said gender-based violence in Plateau State continues to manifest in domestic abuse, sexual assault, defilement of minors, early marriage, human trafficking, harmful practices, and intimidation of women in public life.
She warned that cultural practices encouraging victims’ families to “forgive” perpetrators undermine justice and worsen trauma.
“As we forgive, we undermine the legal framework. When a girl contracts HIV or sexually transmitted infections from rape, can forgiveness cure the disease? Can it erase trauma?” she asked.
Dazyam listed patriarchy, stereotypes, poverty, unemployment, lack of awareness, drug abuse and weak implementation of laws as major enablers of violence. She reminded stakeholders of existing legal frameworks—including the Child Rights Law, Disability Rights Law, Gender and Equal Opportunities Law, VAPP Law, and the Penal Code.
She also raised concerns over cases frustrated by poor investigation, interference, withdrawal by families, manipulation of court processes, and suspects escaping justice, including high-profile incidents of child trafficking and defilement.
Police: Families, Logistics and Legal Gaps Obstruct Successful Prosecution
The O/C Legal of the Plateau State Police Command, Ikutanwa Samuel Idowu, highlighted challenges encountered by investigators, including late reporting of rape, lack of medical evidence, reluctance of families, and financial constraints.
He explained that police often use personal funds to pursue cases, while many complainants later withdraw under pressure or cultural sentiments.
He cited cases where parents of defiled minors begged police not to prosecute, and others where suspects were released after legal advice indicated insufficient evidence.
“When a case is brought to us, we start working immediately. But logistics are a major problem. Some families compromise cases. Some victims disappear. These are the issues affecting justice,” he said.
Idowu urged stakeholders not to blame the police alone but to understand the strict legal requirements that guide investigations.
Ministry of Justice: Legal Advice Faster, but Documentation Gaps Still Affect Convictions
Speaking on prosecution challenges, Barr. Yilji David Nanfwang, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, said legal advice is now issued faster than before, but delays still occur when records are incomplete.
He emphasized that failure by investigators to comply with Section 38 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law—especially recording confessional statements under video—often renders cases “dead on arrival.”
Nanfwang also lamented the challenge of suspects on bail absconding, revealing that plans for “official bondmen” (professional sureties) have stalled at the judiciary.
“Imagine a case we pursued for six weeks; once the suspect got bail, he ran away and that was the end. We need systems that ensure suspects do not escape justice,” he said.
He encouraged synergy among agencies, noting that police, NAPTIP and the Ministry of Justice can jointly prosecute cases involving multiple offences such as human trafficking and culpable homicide.
NAPTIP: We Do Not Restart Cases — We Close Gaps Police Could Not
The Plateau State Commander of NAPTIP, Adole Alexander, clarified that the agency does not duplicate police work but often reopens angles necessary for trafficking-related prosecution.
NAPTIP’s legal officer explained that trafficking investigations require specialized questions sometimes omitted in initial police files, especially when victims are still in transit across states or countries.
“Human trafficking is intricate. Sometimes the victim is still in Mali or Togo. We must take fresh statements to fill legal gaps. It’s not duplication—it’s necessary for conviction,” she said.
Child Protection Actors Raise Concerns Over Rescue, Trauma Care and Family Reunification
Representatives of the Child Protection Network, Grace Adams and Sandra Chikan, raised concerns about the management of rescued children and the absence of trauma-informed care.
Adams described recent cases where trafficked children cried for days in shelters due to confusion about their identities and caregivers.
“We need a database of trained psychologists. You cannot rescue a traumatized child and expect them to adjust without counselling,” she said.
Chikan added that many cases fail because agencies work in silos.
“Three agencies sometimes handle one case, yet the case still collapses. A clear referral pathway will minimize duplication and maximize resources,” she noted.
She urged a coordinated community-based approach, including parenting education, strengthening family systems, and scaling sensitization to LGAs facing high levels of early marriage, trafficking and child labor.
GEOC: Time for SOPs, Better Coordination and Survivor-Centered Practices
Responding, Dazyam agreed that gaps in psychosocial support and family strengthening must be addressed.
She proposed a four-pillar framework for Plateau State:
- Prevention — stronger awareness and community engagement
- Response — timely, compassionate support
- Recovery — psychosocial care and reintegration
- Coordination, data and accountability — unified referral pathways and standard operating procedures (SOPs)
She revealed that Plateau State ranked 17th nationally in the 2025 Womanity Index on GBV response—an indication of progress but also a reminder of the “long road ahead.”
Call to Action
Dazyam urged stakeholders to treat the 16 Days of Activism as a turning point:
“Let this period be one of action, not words. Survivors need timely justice and compassionate care. No perpetrator should walk free because of avoidable gaps.”
She called for:
- improved coordination among police, NAPTIP, NSCDC, MoJ and civil society
- proper documentation of remand proceedings
- standardized referral pathways
- better awareness at community level
- strict implementation of GBV laws
The engagement ended with a renewed commitment from all agencies to work together to strengthen Plateau State’s justice system and improve protection for women, girls, and other vulnerable groups.