Niger CP tasks Gender Desk Officers on professional handling of SGBV cases

The Commissioner of Police in Niger State, CP Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, recently instructed Gender Desk Officers throughout the state to approach their work with professionalism, empathy and diligence when dealing with Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) cases. This directive was announced during a one-day training session held at the Police Officers’ Mess in Minna, aimed at equipping these officers with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively respond to SGBV complaints.

Elleman emphasized that police officers frequently serve as the initial contact for victims and survivors of SGBV, and as such, they must possess the requisite expertise to handle such cases appropriately. He encouraged the officers to engage actively in the training and to apply the acquired knowledge in their daily duties, with a particular focus on documentation, investigation, and response procedures.

The Gender Desk Officers were also directed to ensure that survivors and victims are treated with the utmost respect and dignity, from the moment they report an incident through the entire investigative process and beyond. The training program was designed to familiarize participants with both the theoretical and practical aspects of handling SGBV cases.

Earlier, Officer-in-Charge of the Gender Section, ASP Hadiza Adamu, revealed that the session was a follow-up to an SGBV course she completed in Abuja. She stressed the importance of sharing the acquired theoretical and practical knowledge with other officers responsible for handling SGBV complaints across the Command. Adamu outlined the critical responsibilities of officers, including listening to survivors with empathy, accurately documenting complaints, conducting professional investigations, and taking appropriate action while safeguarding the dignity and rights of the victims.

Additionally, CSP Jude Akaeze, Officer-in-Charge of the Drill Room Police, discussed the importance of thorough investigations in ensuring successful prosecutions of SGBV cases, while the Officer-in-Charge of the Gender Section elaborated on the definition of SGBV. ACP Tapshak Bitrus Sekat addressed the impact of psychological trauma on survivors and victims, and FIDA Chairperson, Mrs Bolanle O. Jibogun, Esq., provided insights into the legal framework governing SGBV.

Activist Aisha Yusuf highlighted the significance of inter-agency collaboration, and Insp. Solomon Washima presented the Nigeria Police's approved procedure for action-based responses to SGBV cases. The command stated that the objective of this training was to enhance officers' abilities to identify, document, investigate, and manage SGBV cases, as well as to strengthen collaboration with relevant stakeholders.

The training gathered representatives from the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Deputy Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, members from Suleja and Magama Constituencies, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women Affairs, Chairperson of FIDA, and Hon. Dada Suleiman, among others.