S*xual violence: Kano CJ seeks stiffer penalty on offenders

Kano State Chief Judge, Justice Umar Nura Sagir on Monday expressed disgust over the increased cases of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) ravaging the country, advocating that stiffer penalty should be meted on violators, so as to serve as deterrent to others.

According to him, reported cases of SGBV are growing at an alarming rate, noting that urgent steps should be taken to curb the trend through the application of judicial action.

Justice Sagir in his remarks at the flag off the sitting of the special investigation panel on SGBV North West zone, held in Kano, disclosed that in the year 2018, not less than 1, 142, reported SGBV cases were recorded in Kano.

He added that in 2019, over 741 cases were reported.

The Chief Judge, who was represented at the occasion by Chief Magistrate, Mariam Sabo Ahmed, revealed that the judiciary would continue to expedite actions on cases of gender based violence.

He affirmed that stiffer punishments would be meted out on those found guilty, explaining that such measures would serve as a deterrent to those nursing similar evil intent.

Justice Sagir noted that a special medical facility has been established at Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital to cater for the medical needs of SGBV victims.

In his goodwill message, the chairman, Kano state Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption, Muhyi Magaji disclosed that reported cases of SGBV in North West Nigeria has a different dimension from those recorded in other parts of the country.

Muhyi appealed to the panel to take discreet notice that most victims in the North-West not only suffer from physical violations, they also suffer psychological trauma, urging the panel to recommend solutions that would tame the rampant gender incited forms of violence, while describing the situation as disturbing and alarming.