Advocates push tougher prosecutions as fresh data shows worrying trend
Civil society groups in Gombe are raising the red flag over a steady rise in sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), warning that weak prosecution and light sentencing are failing to deter offenders.
The Wildan Care Foundation (WCF) and the Advocacy Centre for Development (AC4D) sounded the alarm during an engagement with magistrates, aimed at strengthening the use of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law to secure firmer convictions.
Executive Director of WCF, Hajiya Zariyatu Abubakar, said the meeting followed months of consultations with police and other stakeholders, which exposed gaps in how SGBV cases are prosecuted.
“We realised that engaging magistrates directly was key,” she said. “If the law is not applied firmly, light sentences will continue to embolden perpetrators.”
Abubakar stressed that stricter sentencing and consistent application of the VAPP Law could help curb the rising cases and send a strong warning to offenders.
Backing the concern, AC4D Executive Director, Ibrahim Yusuf, described the figures as disturbing: 35 per cent of women in Gombe experienced physical or sexual violence in the last year, while nearly 60 per cent have suffered physical violence at some point in their lives.
“If this trend continues, Gombe could soon rank among states with the highest SGBV prevalence,” Yusuf warned.
He praised UNICEF and partners for setting up a Referral and Assistance Centre, saying safe spaces are crucial for survivor protection and healing. Still, he stressed that justice must remain central.
“Psychosocial support is vital, but holding offenders accountable is what truly breaks the cycle,” he said, urging the state government to boost funding and adopt a coordinated response to SGBV.
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