Metro
Sexual violence in IDP camps on the arise, as 30 girls raped in Yobe in Sept alone
The Presidential Committee on the North-East Initiative (PCIN) has raised alarm over the rising cases of sexual violence against displaced persons in camps across the North-East, stating that 30 girls were raped at the Yobe camp for the internally displaced in September 2017 alone.
It added that the attacks on women and girls had worsened in October, thereby increasing the spread of the HIV virus in the camps.
The PCNI Vice- Chairman, Alhaji Tijani Tumsa, made this disclosure during the PCNI Coordinator forum on Thursday in Abuja.
He revealed that the National Assembly had also expressed concern over the reports of sexual violence in the camps.
Tumsa stated that NASS had asked the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) to collaborate with all relevant agencies to combat the HIV prevalence in IDP camps.
Read also: DELTA: 21-yr-old rapist sets victim’s home ablaze after rape attempt was thwarted
Tumsa blamed poor security coordination in the camps for the sexual violence on the female camp members, adding that his committee was working with the security agencies to address the problem.
He said, “The National Assembly has expressed concern just like we have also raised concern with relevant agencies to offer robust security plans for the internally-displaced persons.
“Rape is a very unfortunate incident just like the HIV spread; what we are doing is to create an environment where punishments are very severe and immediate and that is what has been happening since we got involved.”
Asked about the number of suspects in custody over the attacks, Tumsa said he did not have the figure, but said, “as many suspects as have been caught are in custody.”
Tumsa said the PCNI was making efforts to transit the North-East from humanitarian dependence to the phase of economic recovery, noting that when the IDPs returned to their communities, the committee would need to provide support for them to regain their livelihood.
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