By Uthman-Baba Naseer,Minna

The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development in Niger State,Hajiya Hadiza Idris Kuta,has raised deep Concern on the alarming rates of rape,child abus and all forms of gender-based violence across the state.

She warned that the Ministry under her watch will continue to ensure the full prosecution of any culprits in court of competent jurisdiction for offenders to face justice.

The Commissioner who stated this while speaking with journalists in her office in Minna the State capital said the Niger State government will go all out to combat the menace.

Hajiya Hadiza Idris Kuta expressed her worries over the increasing number of rape and child molestation cases being reported and stressed the government’s determination to ensure justice for victims.

The Ministry,according to her, is determined to engage all stakeholders to partner with relevant agencies in the state to bring perpetrators of these heinous crimes to face the full wrath of the law to serve as a deterrent to others.

“ We as a ministry will continue to partner with all stakeholders to ensure that survivors of these crimes get justice in court of competent jurisdiction.

“ We will not allow these to continue in Niger State. The reported cases of rape and child molestation is on the increase in the state. We have so many of these cases in our courts.

“ I was almost shedding tears in court this morning because of the stigmatization the survivors of these heinous crimes are subjected to. We will no longer accept it in Niger State any more” she declared.

The Commissioner revealed that she recently attended a court hearing involving a teenage girl who was allegedly impregnated by her grandfather. According to her, the victim was rescued and received medical attention after her health deteriorated during pregnancy. She said DNA tests later confirmed with a 99.9 percent match that the suspect was the father of the baby. However, she lamented that the suspect was granted bail due to legal technicalities, while the case has been adjourned until July.

Kuta noted that several similar cases are currently before the courts, including one from Kontagora involving the alleged sexual assault of a young girl. She explained that the ministry is working closely with relevant authorities to ensure witnesses are presented and that offenders face justice. She added that the government is exploring legal measures to prevent suspects in serious rape and child abuse cases from easily obtaining bail.

Expressing deep concern over the rising cases of sexual violence, Hajiya Hadiza said Governor Umaru Mohammed Bago has pledged support for stronger action against offenders. She disclosed that plans are underway to establish a committee involving key stakeholders, including the judiciary, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Women Affairs, to strengthen prosecution processes and secure justice for victims.

The commissioner identified, social stigma, and lack of support from families as major challenges affecting the prosecution of rape cases. She called on parents, community leaders, traditional rulers, and religious leaders to support victims rather than stigmatize them. She also emphasized the need for rehabilitation and psychological support for survivors, many of whom suffer long-term trauma.

Hajiya Hadiza assured residents that the state government would continue to advocate for the protection of women and children, warning that there would be no hiding place for perpetrators of rape and child abuse in Niger State. She called on all stakeholders to work together to address the root causes of the problem and create a safer society for all.

By David Owei,Bayelsa

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has empathised with victims of a fire incident that occurred on Friday in the state capital, Yenagoa.

Governor Diri who was represented by his Deputy, Dr Peter Akpe, undertook an inspection visit to the scene of the fire outbreak to ascertain the level of destruction caused by the incident at Baybridge, Kpansia.

The Governor, who led a high-profile delegation of officials of relevant government agencies including the Comptroller of Federal Fire Service, Mr. Diton Amos and the Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State Command, CP Daniel Iyamah, spoke to newsmen after taking an on-the- spot assessment of the affected structures.

Describing the incident as unfortunate, he however, expressed gratitude to God that no life was lost.

Governor Diri commended the fire service, the police and neighbours who responded to the incident, stressing that but for their swift intervention, the situation could have been worse.

The Governor assured that all relevant agencies would take the necessary steps to unravel the cause of the inferno to decipher whether it was an electrical fault or man-made.

The Bayelsa governor however added that all electrical sources to the affected would remain shut down during the period of the investigation.

His words: “We are here on behalf of His Excellency, the Governor to show concern over what has happened. This is an emergency. However, we give glory to God that no life was lost and that the level of damage did not get beyond what we are seeing.

“Let me commend the efforts of the fire service agency and other relevant agencies and even the neighbours for their swift intervention, if not it would have been worse.

“We will take the necessary action to follow up. The Police, SDS, Comptroller of Fire Services will undertake an investigation to ascertain whether the incident was man-made or it was an electrical fault. Meanwhile, electrical sources to this environment will be shut down for now.”

In his remarks, the Commissioner of Police, CP Daniel Iyamah, explained that as soon as the Command was contacted, he deployed his officers to secure the area, stating that “investigation was ongoing in order to come up with the exact cause of the fire outbreak.”

Director-General, Bayelsa State Emergency Management Agency, (BYSEMA), Hon. Walamam Igrubia, expressed sadness over the sudden incident and assured that his agency would take steps to alleviate the plight of the affected persons.

Hon. Igrubia said: l have deployed my officials to get a list of the victims affected and get information about what has been destroyed. We thank God that no life was lost because that is the most important thing. Whatever that is lost here, we hope that it would be recovered.”

In their separate accounts, a victim of the fire outbreak, Douye Josephine Yallah, who sustained injuries from the fire, said the incident happened at about 9 ‘O clock in the morning and that property worth millions of naira were destroyed.

Also another victim, Miss Blessing Sobotie, and an eyewitness, Pastor Ezekiel Oteigbanyon, narrated that they heard a loud sound and saw smoke billowing from the rooftop and raised an alarm to call the attention of the neighbourhood to the incident.

Miss Sobotie, who described the destruction as massive and devastating, called on the government and other charitable organisations for assistance.

The Deputy Governor, Dr. Peter Akpe was accompanied on the visit by his wife, Dr. Favour Akpe, Commissioner for Health, Prof. Seiyefa Brisibe, his Lands and Survey counterpart, Mr Perepuighe Biewari, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Fred Kemedei and the Permanent Secretary of Women Affairs, Mrs Agnes Oloye, among others.

By David Owei, Bayelsa

The Ijaw Publishers’ Forum (IPF) has called on the governors of Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta states to urgently revive and adequately fund the BRACED Commission as part of a coordinated regional strategy to tackle the growing wave of insecurity across the country.

The forum said recent developments indicate that kidnapping, banditry and other violent crimes are no longer restricted to their traditional hotspots, warning that the South-South region must not wait until criminal elements become deeply entrenched before taking proactive measures.

In a statement signed by its Secretary, Mr. Tare Magbei, the IPF noted that recent reports have shown a disturbing spread of kidnapping-for-ransom activities to the southern parts of the country, including incidents involving school abductions in Oyo State, while ongoing efforts by the National Assembly to advance state police reforms underscore the severity of the nation’s worsening security challenges.

According to the forum, the South-South governors must regard these developments as a clear warning signal, stressing that no responsible leadership should fold its arms while bandits, kidnappers, terrorists and criminal syndicates gain footholds across the region.

The group expressed concern that Delta State and other parts of the South-South are already experiencing security pressures from neighbouring states, even as the Niger Delta continues to grapple with kidnapping, cult-related violence, oil theft and other forms of organised crime.

IPF warned that criminal networks do not recognise state boundaries, noting that a threat that emerges in Edo State today could easily spread to Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa or Cross River states in the absence of a robust regional security framework anchored on intelligence sharing, maritime surveillance and joint emergency response mechanisms.

The forum lamented that the BRACED Commission, established to promote regional integration, security collaboration and socio-economic development among the South-South states, has remained largely dormant at a time when the region requires a unified approach to confront emerging threats.

It therefore urged the governors to immediately convene a South-South Security and Development Summit aimed at revitalising the BRACED Commission, establishing a regional security coordination centre, strengthening intelligence gathering and fostering a collective response to terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, sea piracy and economic sabotage.

“The South-South remains the economic backbone of Nigeria. Its waterways, roads, schools, markets, oil installations and communities must not be left vulnerable because of political indifference or delayed action,” the statement said.

The forum further cautioned that the time for action is now, warning that any delay could have grave consequences.

“Delay will be dangerous. Silence will be costly. History will not be kind to any leadership that ignored the warning signs and failed to act,” the statement added.