YOLA/By Tom Garba – There is an upsurge in crimes against women in Adamawa and other north eastern states, Bala Saidu, Chief Medical Director of Yola Specialist Hospital, has said, just as he called a concerted effort to address the problem.
Specifically, Dr. Saidu disclosed that Yola Specialist Hospital alone records at least two cases of rape in a week, expressing worry that crimes against women are on the increase in this part of the country,’’
According to the CMD, the increasing crimes against women include in recent times include, rape, abduction, torture, molestation, sexual harassment and trafficking.
“At Yola, specialist hospital only, we do record at least two cases of rape in a week and crimes against women are on the increase in this part of the country,’’ said he.
Speaking during the commissioning of a unit, Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Tagged ” Adamawa Hope Centre”, in Yola on Tuesday, the Medical Director noted with concern the increase, saying, it portrays a sorry state of affairs for the female gender despite regulations getting stricter.
“It’s so disheartening that culprits are left unpunished and unfortunately poorer sections of society and minors as prime targets of rape, all hands must be on deck to fight it, we are all stakeholders,’’ Dr Saidu said.
While commissioning the centre, the wife of Adamawa State Governor, Maryam Umar Jibrilla decried the ever-increasing incidences of rapes in the society especially among teenagers.
Mrs Jibrilla advised parents to be extra careful in their female children as according to her, ‘’female children have become more vulnerable and exposed to sexual assault.’’
Also speaking, Professor Mohammed Tabiu, the National Programme Manager of the Managing Conflicts in Nigeria (MCN) said one of the areas of the programme intervention in the support efforts is to address the rising incidence of sexual and gender based violence in target States.
In his words, ‘’ Adamawa Hope Centre is expected to address the huge gap in support services for victims of sexual assault by providing free and immediate emergency medical treatment, trauma counseling as well as legal advice where necessary.
The Programme is also to enhance state and community level conflict management capacity into violence in the targeted states through free -inter-related areas of work.
“MCN Programme is partnering with the Adamawa State ministries of Health, Justice and Women Affairs to provide care for the survivors and help them cope with the trauma,’’ he said.
Professor Tabiu further explained to the stakeholders that the operations of the centre will not only be based on a victim-focused and non judgemental approached which is critical for recovery of survivors but also to provide forensic medication examination service by trained doctors and nurses.
In his remarks, the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Silas Sanga said the programme is a one step facility to deal with all sexual abuses, adding that the conception started with the State Ministry of Justice but there was no collaboration for effective implementation.
Barrister Sanga advocated for a maximum of 21 years and a maximum of life imprisonment for offenders of rapes cases to serve as deterrent to others
Also speaking, Commissioner of Health, Dr Fatima Atiku said the programme has come at a right time when rape cases are becoming so rampant and promised to assist the Adamawa Hope Centre when called upon to do so.
