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From Abdulrazaq Mungadi, Gombe
The Gombe State Police Command in collaboration with the Advocacy Centre for Development (AC4D) has organised a round-table session frontline policing on gender-related offences and the application of Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law (VAPPL) in the state.
The engagement which brought together all gender-desk officers across the command was strengthen the officer’s operational readiness on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and gender-related crimes as well as deepening the officeer’s understanding of the distinctions between the Penal Code and the VAPPL.
Speaking at the opening of the meeting, CP Bello Yahaya described the engagement as a critical pipeline for professionalising frontline policing, tightening investigative processes, and enhancing officers’ grasp of contemporary legal frameworks governing GBV in the state. He stressed that effective policing is anchored on a sound command of the laws guiding police duties, especially when handling vulnerable victims and sensitive cases.
According to him, GBV is a growing societal threat, underscoring the need for officers to internalise the legal nuances of both the Penal Code and the VAPPL. He added that doing so will strengthen prosecution outcomes, boost public confidence, and ensure victims receive timely justice. He commended AC4D for its sustained partnership with the police on institutional capacity-building.
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Through a series of technical sessions, one of the facilitators, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) at the state’s ministry of justice, – walked officers through comparative legal analyses, practical case scenarios, and procedural guidance. He emphasized that misapplication of existing laws often weakens investigations, compromises victim protection, and undermines accountability. While the Penal Code remains the dominant criminal framework in the northern states, the VAPPL expands definitions of abuse, broadens prosecutable offences, and reinforces survivor-centred protection mechanisms in Gombe state.
On his part, the Executive Director of AC4D, Comrade Ibrahim Yusuf, reiterated the organisation’s commitment to advocating for reforms aimed at strengthening gender desks to improve case management protocols, and aligning policing strategies with national and global standards in responding to GBV.
He stated that the collaboration with the command reflects a renewed emphasis on evidence-driven policing and rights-based interventions.
He noted that empowering officers with the right legal knowledge remains central to reducing impunity and ensuring seamless implementation of the VAPPL in the state. He further highlighted the importance of continuous training, stronger inter-agency collaboration, and public sensitisation in fostering safer communities.
