Adedayo Bejamins-Laniyi, the mandate secretary for women and children affairs in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), says 2,344 cases of gender-based violence (GBV) have been reported in the territory.

Ms Benjamins-Laniyi made this known during a meeting with on-air personalities, influencers and media personalities on Thursday in Abuja.

She admitted that there are challenges in reporting incidences of GBV and how to bring it to the fore.

“From a thousand reported cases of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), it has now shot up to 2,344 as of today,” said Ms Benjamins-Layi. “This is caused by a greater consciousness and now a will to engage those channels of reporting.”

Ms Benjamins-Olayini commended the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for being the first security institution “to domesticate as it were the gender bill.”

The mandate secretary explained that the secretariat has no less than 10 departments, 40 divisions and 15 units.

“Every one of the gender mainstreaming directions and objectives of the mandate for the FCT women, adolescent girls, children and PWDs within the classification of vulnerable groups is a targeted index for intervention and subvention.

“This will bring critical rescue to circumstances that have implicated their state of being and the rights of livelihood, life, safety and security,’’ she said.

Ms Benjamins-Olaniyi emphasised that the history of atrocities against women is a heist that brought about them having to bite, urging OAPs and reporters to always balance their reports as it concerns GBV.

She further explained that the 16 days of activism against GBV with the theme: “Invest to Prevent Violence against Women will Children’’ will begin on Saturday.

“We are going to have a walk; dignitaries like the Minister of FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike, the commandant of the NSCDC and others will be leading the walk,’’ Ms Benjamins-Olayini said.

(NAN)