A civil society organisation, Talk Initiative, has advocated justice, accountability, and protection for all survivors of sexual abuse and exploitation in Nigeria.

At a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday, Sefinatu Ahmed, the executive assistant of the organisation called for urgent action to break the cycle of violence and secure justice for survivors.

The group said it was unfortunate that while women and girls were most affected, they remain victims, and the issue remains underreported and under-addressed due to stigma.

Citing the widely publicised case of Hadiza Baffa in the hands of former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Turaki, who she has repeatedly accused alleged of sexual assault, exploitation and assault.

Talk Initiative declared its solidarity with Ms Baffa and other survivors and called on the government, security institutions, traditional authorities and civil society groups to take immediate and meaningful action to end impunity.

The group stressed the need to demand justice for survivors and provide them with psychosocial, economic and livelihood support to aid their recovery and reintegration.

The organisation, said it is working with local actors to raise awareness about the root causes and impact of sexual and gender-based violence, support survivors with counselling and rehabilitation.

“We are calling for independent oversight of the court proceedings, protection for the survivor, and accountability for the alleged abuse of power,’’ she said.

They stressed that Ms Hadiza’s case highlights the systemic silencing and emotional manipulation allegedly perpetrated by a former government official.

“We are urging women’s rights organisations, bar associations, and human rights defenders to support Hadiza, and view her case as a national emergency.

“The voices of survivors should echo loudly and must go hand-in-hand with dismantling the political and legal barriers that prevent justice from being served,’’ she said.

The CSO added that not enough attention was paid to pressing issues faced by women and girls by responsible authorities to unravel what often prevents them from speaking out,

“There are not enough protective, referral and support services for survivors, and the fact that perpetrators rarely face prosecution or conviction leaves survivors in a cycle of trauma, stigma and pain.

“Additionally, Hadiza’s case aims to set a precedent for similar cases, demonstrating that powerful individuals in Nigeria can abuse their power without facing consequences.

“Let’s act together to heal the scars and address the longstanding effects of SGBV by demanding justice for survivors wherever they may be in Nigeria, Africa, and the rest of the world,” she said.

Meanwhile, Ms Baffa has continued to publicly accuse Turaki, a former minister, of alleged rape and intimidation, claiming the assault occurred in 2014 when she was a student at Baze University, Abuja.

She alleged that Mr Turaki used his influence to silence her for over a decade and that he is the father of her child.

“He has been using his power and his status to threaten my life and frustrate my life with my child and denying the child,’’ she alleged.

She recounted that in September 2014, while she was a student of Baze University, Abuja, the minister sent his driver, identified simply as Shehu, to pick her up around 4:00 p.m.

She was then taken to a residence on Yadema Street, Asokoro, which she later described as “Han’s place”.

Ms Baffa said the following day, in the dead of night, the former minister gained access to the room where she was kept.

“He came around 1:00 a.m. in 2014. I don’t want to go into details because it’s not a fun thing to say. He raped me that night and asked me not to say anything. He left and I was really scared to talk,” she alleged.

The former minister denied the allegation, insisting that the allegations were unfounded.

In a statement by his media aide, Lawal Umar, said Ms Baffa’s narrative was orchestrated by his political adversaries.

“He has refused to succumb to such tactics and remains committed to upholding his integrity, the rule of law, and the principles of justice,” the statement said.

He recalled that a court had struck out Ms Baffa’s suit against him following family interventions and an apology from Ms Baffa’s end.

Mr Turaki said Baffa was entrusted to his care by her mother when she relocated to Abuja because she was new to the city. He said in the spirit of longstanding friendship with her family, he accepted the responsibility and treated her in a manner befitting that of a guardian.

He alleged that following her repeated involvement in financial scams and subsequent detentions where he was frequently called upon to intervene and settle matters.

Consequently he reported her conduct to her mother and withdrew his guardianship.

“Aggrieved by this decision, Hadiza Baffa petitioned the police, making spurious allegations against me, including claims of rape, unlawful termination of pregnancy, and threats to life,” he claimed. 

(NAN)