The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has reiterated zero tolerance for Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in local communities and society.

NAPTIP Director-General Fatima Waziri, represented by Bunmi Omole, an agency official, spoke during a meeting on Monday in Abuja.

The meeting with the theme: “Addressing Sexual and Gender-based Violence through the Youths,” was organised by the Abiodun Essiet Initiative for Girls with support from the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Kwali Area chapter.

Ms Waziri said NAPTIP was saddled with coordinating the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law and therefore had zero tolerance for violence against persons.

“NAPTIP is in the fight against violence against persons both on the part of prevention through creating awareness and prosecuting offenders.

“So we would continue to live up to our mandates by creating awareness on issues of rape and other gender-based abuses, as well as prosecute offenders,” she said.

Abiodun Essiet, the executive director of Abiodun Essiet Initiative for girls, who Josephine Emeghoghena represented, said organising such a meeting had become pertinent owing to the rise in the spate of SGBV at the grassroots.

Agbo Daniel of the non-custodian unit, Nigeria Correctional Service, Kwali, advised community members to report rape, domestic violence and other abuses to the appropriate authorities.

According to him, victims of violence can walk into any correctional centre in the 774 local governments across the country to report.

A council legislator in Kwali, Nuhu Daniel, said the council and its members were working towards partnering with the appropriate security agencies in domesticating some bye-laws and establishing departments within the local council to handle abuse matters.

(NAN)