The Benue State Government has taken a significant step towards addressing the growing concern of rape incidents in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps. According to the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Yangien Ornguga, the government has established a desk across camps in the state to provide a safe and accessible platform for victims to report cases of rape. This move aims to bring perpetrators to justice and provide support to victims.
The establishment of the desk is part of the government's efforts to tackle Gender-Based Violence and other forms of criminality in the state. Yangien Ornguga made this disclosure while hosting members of the Correspondents' Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Benue State Council, at the Ministry of Justice headquarters in Makurdi. The Attorney-General emphasized the importance of creating a safe and enabling environment for victims to report cases of rape and other forms of violence.
In addition to establishing the desk, the Ministry of Justice has created a website to enable residents to report criminal issues, especially Gender-Based Violence, rape, and other forms of criminality. The website aims to save residents the stress of coming to court to report cases, making it easier for them to access justice. The Attorney-General stated that the website will help legal practitioners discharge their duties with professionalism and provide Benue residents with quick access to justice.
The Ministry of Justice is working in partnership with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) to prosecute offenders of human trafficking. This collaboration aims to serve as a deterrent to would-be traffickers and put an end to the menace in the state. The Attorney-General emphasized the importance of prosecuting offenders to send a strong message that human trafficking will not be tolerated in Benue State.
The Attorney-General, Yangien Ornguga, has prioritized the training and capacity building of lawyers to enable them to discharge their duties effectively and efficiently. Upon assuming office, he discovered that most laws in the state were outdated, which could lead to a lawless society if not addressed. He warned that if the state operates with outdated laws, practitioners would have nothing to quote, emphasizing the need for reviewing and updating the laws.
The Ministry of Justice has made significant progress in reviewing and updating laws in the state. Some of the laws that have been reviewed include the Education Law, Child Rights Law, Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law, and Local Government Law. The Attorney-General disclosed that reviewing laws is a capital-intensive process, but the ministry is committed to ensuring that the laws in the state are up-to-date and address present challenges.
The Ministry of Justice has also cleared 13 months' salary arrears owed to judiciary casual staff and increased their monthly pay from N5,000 to N30,000. The Attorney-General stated that plans are underway to further increase the monthly pay when the economy improves. This move aims to improve the welfare of judiciary casual staff and enhance the administration of justice in the state.
Key points
- The Benue State Government has established a desk to address rape cases in IDP camps and created a website for reporting criminal issues.
- The Ministry of Justice is working with NAPTIP to prosecute offenders of human trafficking.
- The ministry has reviewed and updated several laws in the state, including the Education Law and Child Rights Law.
