December 13, (THEWILL) – At least two hundred and seventy-five cases of Gender-Based Violence, GBV, have been recorded in Cross River State between January and November 2023.
Besides rape, other cases of GBV recorded comprise emotional abuse, physical abuse, and incest with several incidents leading to body impairment, and mental imbalance including loss of lives.
Victoria Emah Emah, the Executive Director, Neighbourhood Care Well Foundation, disclosed this in Calabar during a training workshop for Journalists on GBV.
She lamented that a number of these cases go unreported both in the media space and to security agencies, paving the way for more abuses.
Emmah decried the high rate of incest going on in about two local government areas of the state Akamkpa and Bakassi LGAs stressing that the situation is worrisome.
On how her organisation came up with the figures, she said they work with trained whistle-blowers, law enforcement agencies, and traditional heads who report these cases to them.
She called for psychiatric tests on some parents because the rate at which parents abuse their own children is alarming.
She added that with the assistance of Global Aide Canada, victims of gender abuse are given medical treatment, food provisions and accommodation for victims’ upkeep and to keep them away from their abusers.
About the Author
THEWILL Correspondent, Aniekan Bassey has over six years experience that spans across several fields in print journalism including development communication, sexual reproductive and health rights issues, crime, climate change, social justice, business and human interest stories.
