Fear and Silence: How GBV Is Tearing Through Gombe Community
By Danjuma Williams, Gombe
The scourge of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), particularly the sexual assault of minors and adolescent girls, has continued to rob residents of Lawanti community in Gombe State of their peace and security.
Once regarded as a serene and peaceful community in Akko Local Government Area and host to the Gombe International Airport, Lawanti is now battling a growing reputation linked to rape and other forms of abuse.
Residents say the situation has worsened in recent years as some alleged perpetrators appear to evade justice despite repeated complaints and widespread awareness of the crimes within the community.
The problem in Lawanti mirrors a broader national trend of rising GBV cases across Nigeria. In Gombe State, observers say the number of reported incidents remains disturbingly high compared with many other states.
This prompted local and international civil society organizations to intensify campaigns against GBV and push for stronger legal protections for women, girls, and other vulnerable groups. One major outcome was the domestication of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law in Gombe State.
Yet, despite the existence of the Gombe State Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2022, the culture of silence among survivors and their families continues to hinder progress.
Community members and rights advocates argue that fear of stigma, intimidation, and lack of confidence in the justice system often discourage victims from reporting cases.
The depth of the crisis became evident during a recent sensitization visit to Lawanti by Barrister Naomi Mualin Abdu, Gender/GBV Desk Officer at the Gombe State Ministry of Justice.
Addressing stakeholders at the palace of the District Head of Lawanti, Alhaji Bello Hassan, Barrister Naomi explained the provisions of the VAPP Law and the penalties attached to offences such as rape, sexual assault, and domestic violence.
She also recounted several disturbing cases she had encountered in the course of her work, including incidents involving fathers allegedly abusing their underage daughters and another in which a father reportedly demanded sex from his daughter in exchange for paying her WAEC examination fees.
The revelations shocked many attendees and highlighted the urgent need for stronger community action.
The meeting brought together village and ward heads, elders, Imams, a pastor, community leaders, hunters, local vigilante groups, youth representatives, and other residents.
During the interactive session, participants acknowledged that certain individuals were widely known for perpetrating such crimes but said weak enforcement and lack of punishment had emboldened offenders.
The Chairman of the Lawanti Community Development Foundation, Alhaji Habu Ubaida, urged residents to spread awareness across every part of the community and treat GBV as a collective responsibility.
Religious leaders who spoke at the gathering welcomed the intervention by the Ministry of Justice and called for more copies of the VAPP Law to support public enlightenment and encourage victims to seek justice.
Confirming the scale of the problem, the District Head of Lawanti, Alhaji Bello Hassan, disclosed that more than 50 cases may have occurred within a relatively short period.
While acknowledging the limitations of his office in handling some cases, he appealed for community support and pledged to work more closely with relevant authorities to ensure offenders face the full weight of the law.
For many residents, the sensitization visit served as a wake-up call, exposing a crisis that had long been treated as an open secret but rarely confronted openly.
