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Says over 70% of community members affected
From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
Human rights stakeholders in Benue State have called on the Federal and State Governments to evolve strategies to end Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and armed herdsmen invasions in Benue State.
The human rights actors made this call in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, during a Baseline Assessment Report Validation Meeting for the Strengthening Capacity and Oversight on the Use of Human Rights Principles in the Prevention of Conflict-Related SGBV Project.
The meeting was organised by implementing partners, Civil Resource Development and Documentation Centre (CIRDDOC) and Justice and Rights Initiative, with funding support from the Ford Foundation.
The Project Consultant, Chiroke Okogbue, who presented the research work done on conflict and SGBV prevalence rates in Benue and Imo States, said the survey revealed that herder-farmer conflicts account for the highest percentage of conflict as well as gender-based violence, which he noted is on the increase.
He said the investigations revealed that while over 86 percent of respondents affirmed that herdsmen attacks are responsible for the instability in the state, a large percentage have experienced SGBV, loss of loved ones, loss of livelihoods, psychological trauma, and displacements, with a huge number battling with accommodation of displaced persons or relatives and treatment of physical injuries, hence the need to take appropriate action.
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The Project Manager, CIRDDOC, Paschal Anozie, stated that they were implementing the project in Benue and Imo States to strengthen capacity and oversight on the use of human rights principles in the prevention of conflict-related SGBV, explaining that the one-day engagement, which involved MDAs, security, researchers, CSOs, media, religious, and traditional leaders, was to validate the baseline survey carried out by the organisation.
The Executive Director, Justice and Rights Initiative, Justin Gbagir, said they were partnering with CIRDDOC to generate and validate the survey on conflict and gender-based violence in Benue to enable the government and other policy implementers to key in to reduce the issues confronting the people to the barest minimum.
A representative of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mrs Priscilla Kpam, stated that the meeting was timely and called for value reorientation among citizens to change their perception of the causes of all forms of conflict. Kpam said such would ensure a safe environment in the state where economic development can thrive.
Some of the participants, including Dr Joseph Iorhii, attributed the rise in cases of SGBV to poverty, illiteracy, lack of awareness, and various forms of conflicts in the communities, while the President of the Forum of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), Hajia Jamila Ilyasu, urged the government and non-governmental actors to use the findings to curb the effects of the menace of SGBV and other forms of violence in Benue State.
