Police vow to deal with perpetrators of SGBV in A’Ibom

The Police Command in Akwa Ibom has vowed that it will no longer be business as usual for perpetrators of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in the state.

The State Commissioner of Police, CP Andrew Amiengheme, read the riot act in his office while receiving the State Gender-Based Violence Management Committee led by the Wife of the Governor, Mrs Martha Emmanuel in Uyo on Wednesday.

Amiengheme said that henceforth all cases of rape and violence against women in the Command should not be treated with kid gloves.

He noted that perpetrators of the crime would be dealt with decisively within the ambit of the law.

Amiengheme thanked the governor’s wife and her committee for their vociferous campaign and advocacy against all forms of gender based violence in the state.

He reassured that the Police would not renege on its mandate of arresting and prosecuting offenders of the crime in the state.

He added that the command would no longer accept any out-of-court settlement, saying that all matters regarding Sexual and Gender-Based Violence must be resolved in the court of law for justice to prevail.

In her remarks, Mrs Emmanuel said the committee was at the Force headquarters to brainstorm and chart the way forward to curb the crime in the state.

She noted that the committee had recorded success since it was inaugurated by the governor some months ago, saying that more grounds still needed to be covered as cases seemed to be on the rise.

“Since this Committee was inaugurated few months ago by the governor, we have recorded huge success but it appears the more we talk and condemn the act, the more evil people are committing the crime.”

“We are here today as a committee to seek your support and cooperation in tackling this menace headlong in our society,” she said.

The governor’s wife said the committee was against money exchanging hands whenever arrest was made; granting of bail to any culprit; and demanding money from victims of rape for prosecution.

Mrs Emmanuel pleaded that all cases of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence must be handled by the Family Unit of the Force headquarters.