The Niger State Commissioner of Police, CP Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, has charged Gender Desk Officers across the state to adopt professionalism, empathy, and diligence in handling Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, SGBV cases.
Elleman gave the charge during a one-day capacity-building programme organised by the Niger State Police Command for Gender Desk Officers from various divisions at the Police Officers’ Mess, Minna.
The CP said police officers were often the first point of contact for survivors and victims of SGBV, making it essential for them to have the knowledge and skills required to respond appropriately to complaints.
He urged the officers to actively participate in the training and apply the lessons learnt in their daily duties, particularly in the areas of documentation, investigation, and response.
Elleman also directed the Gender Desk Officers to ensure that survivors and victims are treated with dignity and respect from the point of reporting through investigation and other response processes.
Speaking earlier, the Officer-in-Charge of the Gender Section, ASP Hadiza Adamu, said the training was a step-down programme from an SGBV course she attended in Abuja.
Adamu said officers must be able to listen to survivors, demonstrate empathy, document complaints accurately, investigate professionally and take appropriate action while safeguarding their dignity and rights.
The Command said the training was aimed at improving officers’ capacity to identify, document, investigate, and manage SGBV cases while strengthening collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
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(Editor: Ebuwa Omo-Osagie)
