By Suleiman Shehu
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Oyo State Command, says it recorded 96 cases of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in the state between January and August 2026.
The NSCDC Public Relations Officer in Oyo State, Samuel Opebiyi, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Tuesday.
Opebiyi listed SGBV cases recorded by the command to include rape, defilement of minors, sexual assault, domestic violence, physical assault, psychological or emotional abuse, child abuse, exploitation and sexual harassment.
The NSCDC spokesman said that the command treated every reported case of SGBV with seriousness, particularly those involving children and women.
According to him, the command works with relevant government agencies and stakeholders to ensure that survivors receive appropriate protection, while alleged offenders go through due process.
“Based on the number of SGBV cases we have received so far, domestic violence is one of the more prevalent forms of SGBV reported to the command, followed by physical violence, rape and defilement of minors.
He said that 57 of those cases had been completed and closed while seven are still undergoing prosecution.
The spokesperson said that the remaining 32 cases were inclusive as a result of challenges faced by the command due to unavailability of complainants to follow up on cases.
Opebiyi said that some complainants refused to continue with the process and failed to present the victims as witnesses in court.
“There is no way we can successfully prosecute a case without evidence.
“Some complainants are only interested in seeing the perpetrator punished, but they may not understand that punishment cannot be imposed without due process and prosecution.
“We do not have the power to impose criminal punishment on anyone, every alleged offender must be presented before a court of law, and there must be appropriate evidence to support the case.
“When complainants withdraw their cooperation or prevent victims from providing evidence, it becomes difficult to prosecute such cases effectively,” the NSCDC spokesperson said.
Opebiyi said that some of the challenges faced by the command on SGBV issues included underreporting, abandonment of cases, difficulties in obtaining timely and adequate evidence, funding, among others.
“Some victims and their families are reluctant to report cases because of stigma, fear of retaliation, family pressure, economic dependence on the alleged perpetrator, or the desire to protect the family’s reputation,” he said.
Opebiyi appealed to SGBV survivors to be courageous in reporting their ordeal to the command, NAPTIP, Police, government agencies and other relevant stakeholders in order to get justice and to serve as deterrent to others.
He said that the command has continued to strengthen its relevant units, including the Gender Unit, Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, and Child Protection Unit, in order to create avenues for people to come forward and report SGBV cases.
“We encourage victims, survivors, parents, teachers, community leaders, and members of the public to report suspected cases promptly.
“Early reporting can improve the prospects of protecting the victim, preserving evidence, and bringing the alleged offender before the appropriate authorities,” he said.
Opebiyi said that eliminating SGBV cannot be done by security agencies alone but through coordinated responses involving law enforcement, the justice system, health services, social welfare, education, families, communities, the media, and society in general.
He urged the people of Oyo State and Nigeria in general not to treat SGBV cases as private matter, adding that violation of a person’s safety, dignity, and fundamental rights should not be treated as a family matter that could be resolved privately.
“Sexual and Gender-Based Violence involves serious offences that must be reported and addressed through the appropriate legal channels.
“It should not be dismissed as a private family issue,” Opebiyi said.
Also in an interview, the Police Public Relations Officer in Oyo State, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, said that SGBV offenders have been prosecuted over the years.
Olayinka said that the command as much as possible tries to protect the identities of victims who are rescued from abusive relationships and those who have suffered gender-based offences, including rape and related crimes.
He encouraged more people to come forward to speak out and report all SGBV cases, and as well follow it through to its logical conclusion.
The PPRO, however, said the command had observed that social, economic, and legal pressures sometimes lead some victims or their families to withdraw cases.
“So, we have been leveraging the support of other stakeholders, such as FIDA and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs.
“We collaborate with them to ensure that youths, women, young adults, and children are encouraged and sensitised to come forward and report cases whenever something is done to them,” he said.
Olayinka, cited the recent rescue of 17 children and arrest of seven suspects linked to child stealing and trafficking by the command as part of the ways of encouraging people to come forward to report SGBV cases in the state and ensure justice is served.
He said that the command would also partner with the SGBV Media Corps inaugurated by NAPTIP in Oyo State to create awareness and fight the scourge in the state.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Bayo Sekoni