By David Torough, Abuja

About fifty Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) living in rural communities and villages in Tarka local government have been empowered with relevant laws to enable them to advocate for their legal and health rights, following the high prevalence of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in the state.

The young women, aged between 15 and 25 years and considered highly vulnerable, were engaged in a two-day capacity-building workshop that focused on relevant human rights and legal provisions, including the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law.

The workshop was held in Wannune, Tarka Local Government Area of Benue State.

The training, organised by the Concerned Women International Development Initiative (CWIDI) with support from the French Embassy Fund for Civil Society Organisations (FEF-OSC), was titled “Empowering Highly Vulnerable Adolescent Girls and Young Women with Legal and Health Rights Awareness.”

According to a 2024 reported survey, Benue State recorded a prevalence rate of 72 per cent, indicating a high level of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) experiences. The report further shows increasing cases of sexual exploitation, intimate partner violence, child sexual abuse, rape, among others, particularly affecting adolescent girls and young women in the state.

The Executive Director of CWIDI, Bridget Okeke, represented by the Programme Officer, Becky Gbihi, said the organisation embarked on the project to educate and empower young women in rural communities with relevant legal and health rights knowledge to help mitigate incidences of SGBV.

Gbihi maintained that once young women understand their rights, society becomes better, as they are more equipped with accurate information to share and create awareness among their peers and other young girls.

The lead guest speaker, former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Makurdi Branch, Barrister Justin Gbagir, who recently resigned as Executive Director of Justice Rights Initiative, stated in his presentation on legal rights that both males and females, irrespective of status, are equal before the law. He described the violation of women’s rights as worrisome in Nigeria and Benue State due to several factors, and urged young girls to approach the police or courts whenever their rights are violated, assuring them that justice would be served.

The second guest speaker, Dr Dooter Christiana Mnena, identified stigmatisation, fear, and lack of awareness as major reasons for the underreporting of SGBV cases. She noted that inadequate knowledge of relevant laws and appropriate response steps often prevents victims from seeking help, expressing optimism that such training would empower more young women to know what to do when violated.

Some of the participants, including Anaka Keziah and Nyesan Faith, who thanked CWIDI for the workshop, expressed joy and satisfaction, stating that they learned a great deal from the training. They promised to cascade the knowledge gained to their friends and family members.

By David Torough, Abuja

Leaders of the Tiv ethnic nationality from Nasarawa State, led by Prof. Dugeri Terzungwe, paid a thank you and solidarity visit to Prof. Sebastine Hon, SAN, in his Abuja residence.

Speaker after speaker, each of them praised Prof.

Hon’s enormous contributions to their welfare in Nasarawa State. They singled out the various cases he is handling free of charge for them concerning confiscation of their ancestral lands by the Nasarawa State Government and several other interventions, including lifting their children in their chosen careers. They further appreciated Prof. Hon for always standing up for justice, including the defence of Prof. Zacharys Gundu, in the defamation suit filed by Governor Sule of Nasarawa State.

According to them, Governor Sule wants to silence Tiv Nasarawa and further oppress them by filing that suit. They expressed their strong support for Prof. Hon’s governorship ambition in Benue State, saying that Benue needs such a purposeful leader.

They pledged to encourage their kith and kin in Ihyarev axis of Benue State and all their loved ones in the State to support Prof. Hon’s candidature.

Responding, Prof. Hon thanked the visitors for their show of love, promising to continue to do his best in all areas of human endeavour.

Other members of the delegation included T.J. Aondo, SAN, Emmanuel Iotim Agyoh, Sir Francis Akie (KSM), Kumaiin Ikya fnivs), Alphonsus Audu, Matthias Ikyav, Tivlumun Aondo, Ehud Agera, Sarah Zakari, Shimachimin Moses and Ukoyor Thomas.

…Calls for Closer Civil, Military Cooperation

By Mike Odiakose, Abuja

The Centre for Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMICO) has condemned the recent Boko Haram attack in Kaiama, Kwara State, describing it as reprehensible and anachronistic.

Reacting to the incident on Thursday in Abuja, the Coordinator of the CIMICO Center, Dr.

Adams Otakwu mni, called on civil society organizations and citizens to volunteer credible information and intelligence to assist security agencies in tracking down those responsible.

“This is a moment that requires active civil–military cooperation. Citizens must see themselves as partners in security by providing useful information that can help identify and arrest the perpetrators,” he said.

The attack also prompted a response from the Federal Government, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordering the deployment of an Army battalion to the area.

Dr. Otakwu noted that the development places a serious responsibility on the Armed Forces to demonstrate their operational capacity in containing the threat.

“This incident is a test of national security preparedness. The ability to fish out the culprits swiftly will send a strong signal that insurgency has no space in the North-Central region,” he stated.

He further maintained that bringing the attackers to justice would have implications beyond the immediate security situation.

According to Dr. Otakwu, “successfully tracking and prosecuting those behind this attack will go a long way in reshaping international commentary and perception of Nigeria’s security environment.”

He stressed on the need for the greater Civil-Military Cooperation in Nigeria, as sustained vigilance, community participation, and intelligence sharing remain critical to counterterrorism efforts.