Willies Ugo, Gombe
AC44/Police – Dec. 5, 2025
The Advocacy Centre for Development (AC4D) on Friday held a roundtable discussion with gender officers of the Gombe State Police Command to deepen their understanding of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law and the Penal Code.
The meeting, which took place at the Command’s conference hall, was aimed at improving officers’ legal knowledge, case-handling capacity and overall response to gender-based violence in the state.
Gombe has continued to witness cases of gender-based violence, many of which are either underreported or not reported at all, especially sexual offences involving minors in rural communities.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of AC4D and Chairman of the Gombe Network of Civil Society Organisations (GONET), Ambassador Ibrahim Yusuf, said many survivors struggle to get justice due to the “culture of silence” and several institutional barriers.
He said the situation was frustrating and leaves many victims traumatised for years.
In his remarks, the Commissioner of Police, Bello Yahaya, underscored the need for professionalism and proper application of legal provisions by officers handling GBV cases. He commended AC4D for its support and declared the session open.
Presentations were delivered by the Director of Public Prosecution, Ministry of Justice, Jungudo Ali, who spoke on the differences between the Penal Code and the VAPP Law, and Mwalin Naomi Abdu, the ministry’s Gender and GBV Focal Officer, who highlighted key offences under the VAPP Law and the role of the police.
Also speaking, the Executive Director of Wildan Care Foundation, Hajiya Zariyatu Abubakar, stressed the need for stronger stakeholder involvement in combating GBV in the state.
At the end of the engagement, participating gender officers pledged to create more awareness on GBV in their divisions, conduct proper investigations, offer a friendly environment for complainants and step down the knowledge gained to their colleagues.
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