Metro

Incessant Rape: Group Calls For State Of Emergency On Sexual, Gender-based Violence

Published

6 years ago

June 5, 2020

A Bauchi based NGO, ‘Attal Sisters’ Helping Hands Foundation’ (ASHHF) has called for state of emergency on sexual and gender based violence against women.

Mrs Comfort Attal, the Executive Director of the organisation made the call on Friday while on a peaceful protest to the state Commissioner for Justice, Yakubu Bello.

According to Attal, the State Government should institute a motion in the House of Assembly to declare state of emergency on sexual and gender based violence.

She told the commissioner that since the outbreak of COVID-19, violence against women has increased with 50 per cent in the state.

Attal Sisters’ Helping Hands Foundation’ (ASHHF) members in a group photograph

“I’m devastated at the escalating reports of violence against women and girls in Bauchi State and Nigeria at large.

“Since the beginning of Covid-19 pandemic, the number of calls has increased on our hotline services.

“Violence against women has increased as high as 50 per cent in Bauchi state while in some states, service providers couldn’t assist victims as they were trapped at home with their abuser because of lack of access to phones or transportation.

“I am urging you to speak out on this issue on the floor of the House to push a motion to declare a state of emergency on Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) in the state and in Nigeria at large,” she urged.

The executive director stressed that rape was both an inhuman and degrading treatment against women and girls, adding that it was a disrespect to dignity and has lasting negative effect on victims.

“In the past one week, 16-year old girl was abducted and ganged raped in Bauchu state; Uwa was raped and killed in a Church in Benin; Tina was shot dead in Lagos; 13-year-old girl was raped by 11 men in Jigawa, Barakat was rapped and stabbed to death.

“Those are only few reported in the news, we need justice, we need a state of emergency declared today.

“On this note, there is need for the state and the federal government to declare a state of emergency and to pass the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act.

More photos of Attal Sisters’ Helping Hands Foundation’ (ASHHF)

“will you lead in the fight?” the executive director asked.

In his reaction, Bello said that the state government would take measures to ensure that those found wanting would not go unpunished.

The commissioner, also the state Attorney General urged the organization to always collaborate with the police and keep the ministry of Justice apprised of latest happening of such violence case, especially those that had been reported to the police.

“I want to assure you that we are Attal Sisters’ Helping Hands Foundation conducting a peaceful protest on the need for Bauchi govt. to declare state of emergency on sexual and gender based violence in the state. leaving no stone unturned to ensure that we address this menace of girl-child vulnerable rights as regard to women violence,” the commissioner said.

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Metro

I Provide Four Square Meals A Day For My Wife, Man Tells Court

Published

4 hours ago

December 6, 2025

Editor

A commercial mototrcyclist, Malam Isma’il Abubakar, has told a Shari’a Court sitting at Magajin Gari, Kaduna State, that he provides ‘four square meals’ for his wife every day.

Isma’il made this known while responding to his wife, Zainab Saleh’s allegations that he does not provide food for her.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), she also alleged that her husband does not respect her parents.

She said she was done with their 10-year marriage and wanted divorce.

Isma’il, however, prayed the court to give him time to settle the dispute with his wife.

The judge, Malam Malam Anas Khalifa, asked Zainab to provide witnesses who can testify to her claims.

He ordered the couple to present their parents or guardians in court.

Metro

Court Dissolves Marriage, Orders Man To Pay N30,000 Per Month For Kids’ Food

Published

4 hours ago

December 6, 2025

Editor

An Area Court at Centre-igboro, Ilorin, Kwara State, has dissolved the nine-year-old marriage between a woman, Bilikis Abake and her husband, Kehinde Bintin, over claims of domestic violence.

Delivering judgment, the presiding judge, Mr Idris Etsu, held that the respondent, had sent a letter to the court through the bailiff, releasing his wife.

Etsu, consequently, dissolved the marriage between both parties, but ordered the woman to observe three months iddah (waiting) period, before she could remarry again.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the court awarded custody of the two children of the marriage, who are eight-year-old and six-year-old, to their mother.

The court ordered the respondent to pay the sum of N30,000, as monthly maintenance fee.

He held that the father should be responsible for his children’s school fees, and should be allowed unrestricted access to his children, except at odd hours.

Metro

‘My Husband Kept Coffin Under Our Bed, Planned To Use Our Child For Ritual’

Published

4 hours ago

December 6, 2025

Editor

In a chilling case that shocked Matero Local Court, Zambia, 36-year-old woman from Chisamba has been granted divorce from her husband, whom she accused of attempting to sacrifice their two children.

Bertha Mumbi told the court that her husband, Abel Ngoma, 46, of Chibombo, allegedly plotted to kill their two daughters—aged 11 years and 7 years as part of ritual instructions he received from a witchdoctor in 2021.

According to Zambia Observer, testifying before the magistrate, Lewis Mumba Bertha said that Abel even made a small coffin in preparation for the supposed death of their firstborn and kept it in their bedroom for four consecutive nights after she refused to participate in the scheme.

“By then, he had already made a small coffin in readiness for the death of my firstborn. He never told me about the coffin he made. We slept for four days with it under our bed,” she said.

Bertha said the plan was brought to light by the witchdoctor’s informant, who approached her to demand compensation for cancelling the agreement, since she had refused to consent to the sacrifice.