In seven months, 43 rape instances were reported in Gombe – CP

According to the Gombe State Police Command, it was informed of at least 43 rape occurrences between January and July 2023.

This information was provided in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Gombe by the state’s commissioner of police, Oqua Etim.

37 of the reported cases had been charged to court, while six were still under investigation, according to Etim, who claimed that crime was a significant burden for the state.

In some of the cases, family members of the victims were the culprits, which raised concerns in his mind about the incidents.

Etim noted that while there had been an increase in the arrests of offenders who were ultimately charged in court, concerted campaigning was being carried out to stop the rising cases of sexual abuse in the state.

The police chief stated that the command was cooperating with local stakeholders and stepping up efforts to address the issue.

Etim voiced concern about the rape victims’ and their families’ reluctance to disclose rape incidents to the police.

In order to protect the victims, the community, and act as a deterrence, he emphasized that rape cases should not be hidden but rather made public.

According to him, there have been instances where people have put pressure on us by saying they don’t want people to know about them and stigmatize them, but we always maintain that a crime is a crime.