About 1,000 cases of sexual assault and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) have been recorded in Niger State since January 2025. The Director of Planning and Gender Based Focal Person at the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in Niger State, Mrs Mary Isa, disclosed this in Minna.

According to her, sexual assault and GBV are significant issues, and her ministry is concerned about the ongoing incidents happening daily and hourly.

“From January to July 2025 alone, we have recorded over 1,000 cases from various Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs). As I speak to you, we have a central body called a dashboard where all these cases are supposed to be reported and uploaded to the National DashBoard,” she said. Isa lamented that the ministry received a report of a father that sexually assaulted his nine-year-old daughter, which demoralised the child. It took time for the little girl to open up, but the ministry promised that the man would be punished according to the law.

“We also received reports of siblings sleeping with one another, fathers sexually abusing their daughters, it has become a serious issue,” Isa said.
She mentioned that the ministry had been conducting sensitisation campaigns in markets, mechanic workshops, emirate councils and schools. They also have anti-GBV programmes in schools, so that students can report to their teachers; although some violators are teachers and counsellors.

The director revealed that only a few culprits had been arrested, but she regretted the challenges the ministry faced with some parents who prefer to settle sexual abuse cases within the family.

“Our service providers are available across the state, and victims can report any form of abuse, whether physical, sexual, emotional, or any form of GBV,” she added.

She further disclosed that the ministry was collaborating with security agencies and other service providers to identify and arrest culprits to be handed over to law enforcement agencies. Isa warned that perpetrators of this evil act would face the law.