NEWS
Abia: Experts Task Police on Effective GBV Investigations
Abia: Experts Task Police on Effective GBV Investigations
Police officers and prosecutors in Abia State have been urged to investigate gender-based violence (GBV) complaints diligently, protect survivors from further harm and strengthen collaboration to ensure access to justice.
The call was made during a two-day capacity-building workshop for police officers, prosecutors and other law enforcement personnel, which ended on today in Umuahia, Abia state capital.
The training was organised under the European Union-funded Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme (RoLAC), in collaboration with International IDEA and WomenAid Collective (WACOL)/Tamar SARC, in cooperation with the Nigeria Police.
With the theme, “The Effective Implementation of Key Legislation and Policies that Protect the Rights of GBV Survivors,” the workshop focused on improving investigations, strengthening prosecution and promoting coordinated responses to violence against women and girls.
Earlier in her remarks, one of the facilitators, Dr Chigoziri Ojiaka, emphasised the importance of thorough investigations, accurate documentation and proper evidence collection in handling cases of violence against women and girls.
She urged police officers to preserve physical and forensic evidence, obtain detailed witness statements and conduct interviews professionally to avoid investigative gaps that could weaken cases in court.
Ojiaka stressed that survivors should be interviewed privately and respectfully, without intimidation, blame or premature judgment. She noted that trauma could affect how victims recall and recount their experiences, requiring investigators to exercise patience and sensitivity.
She also called for appropriate follow-up investigations, including medical examinations and forensic procedures where necessary, to ensure that all relevant evidence is obtained and properly documented.
Every second brings Nigerians closer to exercising their democratic right and shaping the future of our nation.
Exercise your democratic right responsibly, peacefully and lawfully.
Contributing, another expert at the workshop, Mrs Uju Peace Okeke, addressed access to justice, police powers and prosecutorial responsibilities. She urged law enforcement officers to stop treating domestic violence as a private family matter.
She said police officers had a duty to protect victims, investigate allegations of violence and take appropriate legal action rather than attempting to mediate cases that could constitute criminal offences.
Channel
Okeke explained that the statutory responsibilities of the police included crime prevention and detection, apprehension of offenders, preservation of law and order, protection of lives and property, and enforcement of applicable laws.
She urged officers to exercise their lawful powers of arrest, investigation and search where warranted, while respecting suspects’ rights and taking measures to protect survivors from further harm.
The facilitator warned that failure to investigate complaints or releasing suspected perpetrators without adequately considering victims’ safety could expose survivors to further threats and abuse.
On prosecution, Okeke called for closer cooperation between investigators and public prosecutors to identify evidentiary gaps, obtain relevant evidence and ensure that cases were properly prepared for court.
She said prosecutors should review case files, advise investigators where evidentiary difficulties arise and ensure that reasonable investigative steps had been taken before decisions on prosecution were made.
Okeke also stressed the need to enforce court orders designed to protect victims and ensure that cases were handled in accordance with applicable laws and procedures.
The workshop further examined the roles of judicial officers, medical practitioners, women’s rights organisations and other civil society groups in preventing gender-based violence and improving survivors’ access to justice.
Participants also discussed cultural attitudes that discourage reporting abuse, the consequences of police inaction and the need for accountability and continuous professional training.
The facilitators stressed that gender-based violence could not be addressed effectively by law enforcement agencies alone, calling for stronger cooperation, timely information-sharing and respect for the expertise of different institutions.
Related
DO YOU WANT TO WHISTLEBLOW, REPORT FRAUD, THEFT OR INJUSTICE OR INTIMIDATION? SEND US YOUR STORY/REPORT TO NEWSDESK@MEDIATODAY.NG
