Kebbi first lady Zainab Nasiru-Idris has expressed concern over the report of 39 cases of rape recorded in the state in six months.

She stated this when officials of the National Union of Kebbi State Students (NUKESS) and` National `Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Kebbi chapter, paid her a courtesy visit on Tuesday in Birnin Kebbi.

The permanent secretary of the women affairs ministry, A’isha Muhammad-Maikurata, disclosed the figure.

The governor’s wife described the figure as alarming and called for support to end gender-based violence (GBV).

She urged the state government to take appropriate measures to reduce the menace and punish perpetrators. The governor’s wife also expressed concern over the number of out-of-school children in the state, imploring parents to live up to their moral and religious responsibilities and support the government in providing quality education to their children.

According to her, lack of access to quality education is among the causes pushing young people into banditry, kidnapping and other social ills. The governor’s wife promised that the state government would ensure that students learn skills and trades in their lower levels of education to become self-reliant and move away from social vices.

Ms Muhammad-Maikurata said the 39 rape cases were recorded between January and June, regretting that GBV had become rampant across the state. She charged the students to be vigilant and assist in exposing any case to end the menace.

(NAN)