Plateau State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon Caroline Panglang Dafur has vowed to constitute herself into a storm in the sky where the pervasiveness of dark and demonic societal menace called domestic violence has taken abode and wrestle it to the ground
Addressing a World Press Conference on Thursday, 2nd May, 2024 Hon Dafur against the backdrop of Gender Based Violence perpetrated against Mrs Hauwa Shagari by her husaband, Mr Ibrahim Shagari, a Police Officer who cruelly chopped off her hand without any provocation.
The dogged and fearless commissioner said, “I address you with a heavy heart, burdened by the pervasiveness of a dark and demonic issue that continues to trouble our society: domestic violence. As the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development in Plateau State, I wish to condemn in the strongest terms the heinous act of violence perpetrated against Mrs. Hauwa Shagari by her husband, a Police officer”.
Giving a background of the heinous act, Hon Dafur recounted that “On Tuesday, 30th April, 2024 the greatest act of inhumanity to man, perpetrated by a supposed spouse took place when one Mr Shagari, a police officer and husband to Mrs Hauwa Shagari barbarically cut off the hand of his wife, a woman heavily pregnant for him”.
“The brutal cutting off of Mrs. Shagari’s hand is a horrific act that has left us all shocked and outraged. No woman deserves to be treated with such cruelty and violence, and it is even more unacceptable that this act was committed by a person sworn to protect and serve – a so-called Police officer”.
Dafur warned that the fight against the menace of Gender-based violence which is a scourge that affects countless women and girls in our society will remain futile if “Sadly, it often remains shrouded in silence and secrecy, leaving countless individuals trapped in a cycle of fear, pain, and suffering”.
Fearlessly reaffirming her determination to ensure that the menace is completely stamped out, the award winning commissioner said “This monstrous act of Gender Based Violence that has developed wings and soaring over our skies must be brought down by good”.
She warned without mincing words that “Silence, Secrecy and Shielding of perpetrators are the good that must leave the ground where it is and constitute a storm in the sky where GBV has now taken abode and battle it to the ground. Be reassured that with our tears and hearts, we shall move angels and spirits to wrestle this monster of gender based violence to the ground”.
She reassured that The Time Is Now government is “committed to ensuring that perpetrators of such acts are held accountable and that victims receive the support and justice they deserve”. She said her ministry and the Plateau State Gender Commission have begun investigation into the unfortunate incident and will ensure justice is served”.
Dafur pledged government’s resolve to support the victim who is responding to treatment at Plateau State Specialist Hospital Jos. “I want to assure Mrs. Shagari and her family that we stand with them in this difficult time and will do everything in our power to ensure that justice is served. Government has invested a lot in carrying out sensitization about the VAPP laws and as such, there will be no room for negotiations. It is pathetic that a law enforcement officer who should arrest others for the violation of women is the mastermind of this wicked and callous act”
It would be recalled that upon assumption of office, the ministry under the headship of Hon Dafur toured the 17 LGAs of Plateau State, used the mass media, interpreted jingles in different languages, and partnered with other stakeholders to sensitize the populace on the VAPP laws, the gender court and how serious the present administration of His Excellency Barr Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang is about combating all forms of Gender Based Violence and ensuring social protection to all”
The Commissioner called on the citizenry to collaborate with the ministry by providing her with prompt information about any form of gender violence to create an atmosphere where women will work fearlessly to realize their potentials. “I also want to use this opportunity to call on all citizens of Plateau State to join us in the fight against gender-based violence”.
“Let us work together to create a society where women and girls can live free from fear of violence and discrimination. This demonic act transcends race, gender, age, and socioeconomic status. It affects our friends, neighbours, and loved ones. It robs victims of their dignity, their sense of self-worth, and their dreams. It fractures families and leaves scars that may never fully heal”.
“Let us remember that domestic violence is not a private matter. It is a societal issue that demands our attention and action. Each and every one of us has a responsibility to speak out against this injustice, to challenge the status quo, and to stand as allies for those who have been violated”
