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“No Perpetrator Should Escape Justice Again,” GEOC Tells Stakeholders as Plateau Reviews GBV Failures
As Plateau Observes the Global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence
Stakeholders in Plateau State have declared that the era of gender-based violence (GBV) suspects escaping justice must end, following a tense and highly revealing engagement convened by the Plateau State Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission (GEOC) as part of the 2025 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
The meeting, held on December 5, 2025, at Enayi Hotel, Zarmaganda, Jos South, brought together the police, NAPTIP, NSCDC, Ministry of Justice, Child Protection Network and civil society organisations to dissect recurring failures in case handling, referral processes, community interference and prosecutorial delays.
“Forgiveness is not justice,” GEOC warns traditional and religious communities
GEOC Chairperson, Barr. Olivia Dazyam, opened the dialogue with a sharp rebuke of cultural practices that pressure victims to withdraw cases in the name of peace.
“As we forgive, we undermine the legal framework. Forgiveness cannot remove HIV, cannot erase trauma, cannot cure sexually transmitted infections. Perpetrators must face justice,” she said.
She recounted cases where communities frustrated investigations, suspects hosted celebratory parties after being released, and even instances where court clerks altered dates, nearly leading to wrongful dismissal of cases.
Police: “We fund cases with our personal money”
The O/C Legal of the Plateau State Police Command, Ikutanwa Samuel Idowu, exposed the chronic underfunding and cultural barriers undermining police work.
According to him, many families plead for cases to be dropped — even in defilement of children as young as three.
“Sometimes the victims’ parents beg us to stop the case. But when we insist on justice, they call us wicked. Logistics is another problem. We even use our personal money to prosecute cases,” he lamented.
He narrated incidents where victims disappeared, medical tests were delayed for months, and families refused to cooperate, leaving investigators helpless.
Ministry of Justice: “Cases die on arrival when investigations ignore Section 38”
Barr. Yilji David Nanfwang, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, said poorly documented investigations remain the biggest threat to securing convictions.
“Once Section 38 of the ACJL is not complied with — especially proper recording of statements — the case is dead on arrival. The court will throw it out,” he stated.
He said the ministry has improved the speed of issuing legal advice but still battles gaps such as:
- missing remand records,
- incomplete case diaries,
- suspects jumping bail, and
- delays caused by agencies duplicating work.
The ministry also confirmed that Plateau’s judiciary has yet to act on a proposal for professional bondmen who would guarantee that suspects released on bail do not abscond.
NAPTIP: “We don’t restart cases — we close gaps police missed”
NAPTIP Commander, Adole Alexander, clarified the agency’s process when receiving cases from police.
“Human trafficking is intricate. We do not start afresh. We fill the gaps necessary for conviction. If the victim is still in Mali or Togo, we must take fresh statements,” she explained.
NAPTIP insisted it works closely with the police, but trafficking cases demand deeper, specialized interrogation that cannot be skipped.
Child Protection Network Raises Alarm: “Rescued children are traumatized and confused”
Child protection advocate Grace Adams shared concerns about the emotional distress of rescued trafficked children.
“Some children cry for days after rescue because they don’t understand what is happening. We need psychologists on standby. Rescue without trauma care is dangerous,” she said.
She cited cases where rescued children wanted to run away from shelters, and families showed no enthusiasm to receive them.
Her colleague, Sandra Chikan, emphasized the need for a strong referral pathway:
“Three agencies sometimes handle one case, yet the case still collapses. Without a clear pathway, we waste resources and lose evidence, Let us take this awareness to churches, villages, markets. Trafficking is happening every day.”” she said.
She urged stronger community engagement, family strengthening and revival of family values, noting that poverty and the erosion of parenting culture fuel trafficking.
Human Rights Commission: “Data is the most powerful tool we have”
The State Coordinator of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Mrs. Kiyenpiya Mafuyai, PhD, stressed the need for a unified GBV data system to strengthen accountability.
“We may not control prosecutions, but we control data. Every agency here has cases. Let us commit to monthly data submission starting 2026.”
She called for:
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a central data hub managed through the Ministry of Women Affairs and GEOC
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advocacy for government-run shelters
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employment of government psychologists for trauma care
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strong action against affidavits used to kill cases
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training for prosecutors on protection orders and family interference
“Affidavits that undermine justice should not be entertained in the courts. We must speak with one voice and protect survivors,” she added.
WRAPA: “Communities must take ownership — they know their pain”
Representing WRAPA, Ruth Abwo, Assistant Coordinator, gave a detailed update on community-centered interventions across FASA LGA and surrounding communities.
She said WRAPA has:
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segmented communities
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engaged faith and traditional leaders
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supported young girls
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introduced local by-laws
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promoted a culture of accountability among residents
Abwo narrated the emotional case of a woman still hoping for the return of her trafficked child.
“Every community understands its pain. They must lead the fight. They’re the ones who bring perpetrators or hide them.”
She revealed that WRAPA, with support from community structures and the First Lady’s office, will begin market-based sensitization, extending the GBV campaign beyond formal gatherings.
Immigration: “Children are trafficked daily”
Assistant Comptroller of Immigration, Tubi Adejoke, gave a sobering account of child trafficking patterns in Plateau State.
“Poverty is pushing parents to give out children for trafficking. A child you carried for nine months — somebody brings a certificate and takes them to Lagos or Burkina Faso for exploitation.”
She described cases where:
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children as young as three years are forced into domestic servitude
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traffickers collect monthly payments while victims suffer
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young girls are transported across borders within days
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parents remain unaware of the dangers
GEOC: Plateau Must Stop Ranking Low on National GBV Indices
Dazyam noted that Plateau placed 17th nationwide in the 2025 Womanity Index on GBV response — an indicator that the state still has “a long journey to true justice.”
She proposed a structured GBV Management Framework with four pillars:
- Prevention
- Response
- Recovery and reintegration
- Coordination, data and accountability
She pushed for Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), joint investigations, survivor-centered protocols, and full enforcement of the Child Rights, GEO, VAPP and other protective laws.
“Let this be an era of accountability”
In her closing remarks, Dazyam charged agencies to end the long-standing fragmentation that allows perpetrators to walk free.
“No perpetrator should escape justice again. Survivors deserve timely action, not excuses. Let collaboration replace competition,” she declared.
The engagement ended with a collective agreement to harmonize referral pathways, close investigative gaps, support survivors’ trauma recovery, and strengthen prosecution to ensure that GBV is decisively tackled in Plateau State.
(1) Atiku Abubakar
Among those contesting for the presidential ticket of the ADC, Atiku stands tall as the most experienced. Atiku’s quest to be president of Nigeria started in 1993, with the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
The SDP primaries was won by the late Moshood Abiola who took Baba Gana Kingibe as his running mate.
However, Atiku was said to have stepped down from the race under pressure from Shehu Musa Yar’adua.
At the dawn of democracy in 1999, Atiku was chosen by Olusegun Obasanjo as his running mate. However, after falling out with Obasanjo at the end of their tenure, in 2007 he defected and contested for the presidency on the platform of the Action Congress (AC). He was defeated by the late Umaru Musa Yar’adua of the PDP.
The former Vice President returned to the Peoples Democratic Party, in 2011 and challenged the former President Goodluck Jonathan for the PDP ticket. Atiku lost the party’s primary election to Jonathan. In 2015, Atiku led some PDP governors to the newly formed All Progressives Congress (APC) and challenged the late President Muhammadu Buhari and others for the presidential ticket, but lost the contest.
In 2019, Atiku returned to the PDP, won the primary, but lost the main election to the then President Muhammadu Buhari. In 2023, Atiku was also the PDP’s candidate, but lost to the incumbent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a widely publicised interview on television, Atiku recently disclosed that the 2027 election will be his last, fueling speculation that he will do everything humanly possible to clinch the ticket of the party.
(2) Rotimi Amaechi
Rotimi Amaechi, one of the top contenders for the ticket of the ADC, is a former Speaker of the Rivers State and a governor in the same Rivers. In 2023, after the tenure of the late President Muhammadu Buhari, Amaechi contested for the presidential ticket of the APC with President Tinubu and lost.
Ahead of the coming election in 2027, Amaechi joined forces with the opposition coalition in the ADC and is now battling with others to clinch the presidential ticket.
As the battle for the ticket hots up, Amaechi was recently quoted in an interview with Trust TV, as saying that he did not purchase the nomination form of the ADC to step down or become a vice presidential candidate to anyone.
After his screening last week, Amaechi told journalists that he is a bonafide member of the ADC and will only accept the outcome of any consensus where he is part of and involved.
(3) Muhammed Hayatu-Deen
Muhammed Hayatu-Deen is another presidential aspirant that has been making waves ahead of the ADC presidential primary.
In 2023, Hayatu-Deen was one of the top presidential aspirants for the ticket of the party. He lost to Atiku.
Ahead of the primaries, Hayatu-Deen has urged delegates and stakeholders to use the primary to demonstrate the party’s readiness to offer Nigerians what he described as a credible alternative to failed governance and “recycled politics.”
Speaking in Abuja at the weekend, Hayatu-Deen described the forthcoming primary election as a defining moment not only for the party but also for Nigeria’s political future ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He said. “Monday is not merely about selecting a candidate. Monday is about determining whether the ADC is truly serious about rescuing Nigeria and offering Nigerians a credible alternative to the failed politics they have endured for too long.”
Positioning himself as a unifying candidate capable of bridging regional, religious and generational divides, Hayatu-Deen argued that his candidacy represents a departure from established political figures.
“I am not on the carousel of the same old faces that Nigerians have seen for decades,” he stated. “I carry no political baggage. I owe no godfathers. What I bring is experience, credibility, integrity, calm leadership, and a practical recovery plan for Nigeria.”
The aspirant highlighted insecurity, unemployment, displacement and economic decline across North Central states, including Benue State, Plateau State, Niger State, Nasarawa State and Kogi State, describing persistent attacks on farming communities as both an economic and humanitarian crisis.
“A nation cannot prosper when the region that feeds it is bleeding,” he said.
The winner of the anticipated ADC presidential primary is expected to lead the party into the January 2027 presidential election and mount a challenge against incumbent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the APC and probably Mr Peter Obi of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC).
Remo Stars F.C. have officially confirmed their relegation from the Nigeria Premier Football League following the conclusion of the 2025/26 season.
In an emotional statement released by the club, Remo Stars admitted the campaign ended far below expectations and described the outcome as heartbreaking for everyone connected to the team.
“This outcome is heartbreaking for everyone connected to the club,” the statement read.
The club acknowledged the disappointment experienced by supporters, players, management, and staff after failing to secure enough consistency throughout the season.
“We did not deliver the performances required to remain in the division,” the club implied.
Remo Stars also accepted responsibility for the disappointing campaign while recognizing the high expectations surrounding the team before the season began.
“We take full responsibility for the failure,” the statement noted.
Despite the setback, the club insisted it remains committed to rebuilding and returning stronger in the future.
“Our focus now shifts toward rebuilding with purpose and determination,” the statement added.
The club also expressed gratitude to supporters who continued standing by the team during difficult moments across the season.
“Your loyalty means everything to us,” Remo Stars stressed.
The relegation has sparked emotional reactions among fans, especially considering the club’s ambitions and recent progress within Nigerian football.
“It’s a painful moment for the club and supporters,” many football observers reacted.
Remo Stars, however, remain optimistic about rebuilding and fighting for a return to the top division.
For the club, the message is clear.
Mistakes have been acknowledged.
A rebuilding process is coming.
And the ambition to return stronger remains alive.
Because setbacks in football often become the beginning of a new chapter of growth and recovery.
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