The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), in partnership with the European Union (EU) and International IDEA, has stepped up efforts to improve media reporting of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in Oyo State.

The initiative includes a mentorship programme for members of the Oyo State SGBV Media Corps, aimed at strengthening journalists’ capacity to report cases responsibly, protect survivors’ identities and promote accountability in the justice system.

Speaking at the programme held at Golden Tulip Hotel, Ibadan, the Head of Media and Public Relations at NAPTIP’s Abuja headquarters, Vincent Adekoye, cautioned against resolving sexual offence cases through informal arrangements outside established judicial processes.

Adekoye said allegations of criminal offences should be handled through the appropriate legal channels, stressing that competent courts were responsible for making binding judicial pronouncements on criminal matters.

He warned that informal settlements of sexual offence cases could undermine justice and allow alleged perpetrators to escape accountability.

The NAPTIP spokesperson called for stronger cooperation among law enforcement agencies, the judiciary, social workers, community leaders and non-governmental organisations to address sexual and gender-based violence.

He also urged journalists to adopt survivor-centred reporting practices, warning against publishing names, images or other details that could reveal survivors’ identities and expose them to further harm or stigmatisation.

Adekoye said journalists should go beyond reporting individual incidents to investigating institutional and systemic failures that could prevent survivors from obtaining justice.

He added that responsible reporting could raise public awareness, hold institutions accountable and encourage survivors to seek help through appropriate channels.

The mentorship programme builds on an earlier two-day workshop organised by NAPTIP, the EU and International IDEA to establish the SGBV Media Corps in Oyo State.

The platform is intended to help journalists deepen their understanding of sexual and gender-based violence and contribute to more informed public discussion of the issues.

The NAPTIP Commander in Oyo State, Kayode Alfred, and the media corps mentor, Armsfree Ajanaku, attended the programme.