NAPTIP To Prosecute Parents, Community Leaders As Accomplices In Cases Of Rape, Incest

Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azi, Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), has warned communities not to interfere with criminal prosecution of Sexual and GendGender-Basedlence (SGBV), emphasising that rape and incense cases are not appropriate for family and community leaders.

Waziri-Azi also threatened that parents would be prosecuted as accomplices in cases of rape and incense if they covered up for the violators of their children and wards.

The NAPTIP director lamented that many cases of rape and incense were prematurely dropped due to pressure from families and communities, forcing victims to withdraw their complaints.

He lamented the fact that there are several records of cases that could not be prosecuted because violators were let off the hook when complainants expressed disinterest in prosecution due to pressure from families and communities.

He stated that NAPTIP would soon work on the passage of legislation that would make it a crime for parents and communities to shield SGBV violators, prosecuting them as accomplices in a criminal act.

Speaking on Thursday in Abuja at the start of FCT community advocacy on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in the Six Area Councils beginning with the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Waziri-Azi stated that the NAPTIP has recorded 1, 278 reported cases of SGBV in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with spousal battery being the most common complaint in the last year.

According to the DG, “In 2023, NAPTIP received 1, 278 complaints of sexual and gender-based violence in the FCT, with spousal battery coming in first.” Our data show that spousal battery is a problem in the FCT, and this was the same trend and pattern we saw in 2022.

“We also received complaints about abandonment, where either the husband, wife, or both abandoned their children.

“In addition, the FCT has seen an increase in the infliction of physical injury on children and domestic staff.”

Rape is also on the rise, but compared to 2022, when it was the third most reported SGBV case, 2023 statistics show it is now the fourth most reported case.

In terms of the agency’s convictions, she states, “We secured four convictions in 2023. We understand how difficult it is to investigate and prosecute SGBV cases, but these four convictions were extremely harsh. For the first time, we have two life sentences, 25 years and 21 years, respectively, without the option of a fine.”

She points out that the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPPA), which NAPTIP is authorised to implement in addition to protecting victims of human trafficking, protects all people, including men, despite popular belief.

“Most people believe that the VAPP Act only protects women and children, but it protects all people, including men and boys.

“In the last two years, we have seen an increase in reporting of violence against men, so men are realising that the system is not just for women, and the Act also empowers NAPTIP to implement the provisions of the FCT.”

“NAPTIP has enforcement, prosecutorial, and protective mandates for victims of human trafficking, as well as survivors of sexual and gender-based violence,” she adds.

Speaking on SGBV against older people, Dr Emem Omokaro, Director General of the National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC), stated, “Older people face a lot of stereotypes, prejudices, and discrimination just because they are old,” which has resulted in a series of violent acts against them.

Aisha Yusufari, Director of Social Welfare and Gender at the FCT Social Secretariat, stated that while community leaders can resolve minor disagreements between couples in society, perpetrators of life-threatening violence, rape, and incest must be reported to the authorities for appropriate action.