AFA asks police to enforce VAPP law in Imo

Alliance for Africa (AFA), an advocacy group, has urged the police command in Imo to enforce the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act.

Iheoma Obibi, AFA’s executive director, said the police and other security agencies reserve the right to arrest and prosecute violators of the law.

During a one-day statewide training on VAPP Law 2021, organised for officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in Owerri on Friday, Obibi said “if the police are properly involved in the fight, there will be improved protection of unsuspecting victims from cases of sexual harassments, domestic violence, traditional abuses and other forms of gender-based violence”.

She said the group has been working with other relevant agencies in the state to take the message to rural communities, citing compliance as a major challenge.

She further asked the government to provide the necessary support to the police.

Aboki Danjuma, Imo police commissioner, described the workshop as a testament to the police’s unwavering commitment to justice and the protection of the most vulnerable in the society, insisting that the best way to find oneself is to lose oneself in the service of others.

“The VAPP law represents a significant advancement in our legal framework, aimed at combating violence and safeguarding the rights of every individual in Imo state,” he said.

“Your dedication and meticulous planning have been instrumental in making this initiative possible.

“Your efforts highlight the importance of professional development and demonstrate our shared resolve to address and prevent violence in our community.

“This programme, to me, is designed to deepen our understanding of the VAPP law and equip ourselves with the tools needed for its effective implementation.

“The knowledge and skills we gain will be crucial in enhancing our collective ability to combat violence and uphold justice.

“Let us, therefore, approach this opportunity with the seriousness it deserves, by applying what we have learned today to strengthen our capacity to serve and protect our community more effectively.”

Uju Onwudiwe, sponsor of the bill, said cases relating to the law had been reduced to the barest minimum since its passage in 2021.

She recalled the spate of rape, assault, domestic violence, child labour and abuse, traditional discrimination against women and other forms of social vices against the vulnerable, before the passage of the bill into law.

She thanked Hope Uzodimma, governor of Imo, and Chioma Uzodimma, his wife, for assenting to the bill despite challenges during its first and second readings.

The two-term lawmaker who sponsored the bill, implored the police to arrest and prosecute those violating the act, while urging government to provide necessary support for the NPF.

Juliet Olumuyiwa-Rufai, the resource person, described the law as all-encompassing.

“Almost everyone is a violator of the VAPP law. In our homes, workplaces, schools, churches, offices and so on, we violate the law. So this is the law for all of us. Let us be conscious of the dictates of VAPP law,” she said.