GistReel

The Commissioner for Human Services and Social Development, in Kaduna State, Hajiya Rabi Salisu, has commended the drastic reduction in the cases of child marriages in the State.

She made this known while speaking in an interview on Monday.

She noted that the state has seen a significant reduction in forced marriages, known as “Auren Dole” in northern Nigeria.

While applauding the State government for addressing Gender-based Violence, GBV, in the State, Salisu noted that it has led to an increase in the awareness against the practice, stating that the state has seen a 30% increase in GBV reporting.

The Commissioner also revealed that the Kaduna State Government has secured 11 convictions in 2024 for GBV offenses.

She noted that Kaduna ranks third in the country for reporting GBV cases and is first in the northern region, according to the National Dashboard.

She stated, “For forced marriages, where many victims used to run away from their homes, we have recorded only 8 cases this year. Previously, we used to report more than 300 annually, so this is a great achievement for the state government in addressing Gender-Based Violence (GBV).”

Hajiya Rabi highlighted that the state government has established four operational Sexual Referral and Assault Centers, one in each senatorial zone, supported by a dedicated state budget.

“These centers now focus on prevention, not just responding to cases, ensuring a proactive approach to tackling GBV,” she added.