As part of strategies to curb the menace of gender based violence (GBV) in their communities, the District Head of Maikunkele (Hakimi), Alhaji Suleiman Abdullahi Dada and other village heads in Bosso local government area of Niger state have unanimously agreed to caution their subjects on the need to live at peace with each other.
While appealing to families to tolerate one another, he lamented that the current economic situation in the country can trigger the rate of GBV.
Alhaji Dada made the call during a one day sensitization on GBV survivor’s right and communication skills with community leaders organised by Global Promoters for Community Initiative (GPCI) in Maikunkele.
Accordingly, the ‘Hakimi’ urged couples to be patient with each other adding that “violence can never bring peace and the best way to manage issues is to discuss and chat a way forward rather than engage in all sorts of violence.”
While assuring that, the leaders would do their best in ensuring their subjects adhere to the call to end violence, Alhaji Dada advocated for more awareness from both the Islamic and Christian faith on the dangers of GBV.
Speaking also, the Chief Imam of Maikunkele central Mosque, Shehu Umar said the sensitization is coming at the right time addi.g that “we have been battling with GBV cases.
According to him “the Holy Book of Quran says any man who defiles a woman is to be given 100 strokes of the came if he is not married. Everybody knows this law, but we do not practice it anymore.”
He further disclosed that if there are stiffer laws and people adhere to the practices, justice would always prevail. “As religious leaders, we will continue to preach against GBV and call for a stiffer penalty on the perpetrators to serve as deterrent”, he added.
Women Leader, Hajia Hadiza Mohammed urged couples to understand themselves and bear with each other. “If there is no mutual understanding, one of them would be a victim and the other a perpetuator”, she added.
She further said that, the issue of illiteracy and ignorance is a major cause on the part of young people who want to marry. “Most of our children do not understand what marriage is, some of them just jump into marriages and are not disciplined enough to persevere or tolerate each other.”
Earlier, the Project Director, Global Promoters for Community Initiative (GPCI), Olasukanmi Kalejaiye admonished the village heads to caution their subjects on the need to shun all forms of violence in the various communities.
Kalejaiye further informed them that, the state now has Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law (VAPP) which has better conditions that will serve as punishment for perpetrators and compensation for survivors.
Other village heads feared that one of the causes of GBV in their communities is the irresponsible nature of some married men who take advantage of direct divorce whenever their wives complain of anything, adding that “such can make their children vulnerable and exposed them to GBV”.