Kaduna’s vapp law

Stakeholders demand stronger investigations, survivor-centred services and accountability as concerns mount over alleged abuse of trust by religious leaders

From Noah Ebije, Kaduna

The fight against sexual and gender-based violence in Kaduna State continues to face significant challenges, with weak investigations, inadequate prosecution and poor institutional coordination threatening efforts to secure justice for survivors by bridging the implementation gap in the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition), VAPP Law, organised by the CLEEN Foundation in Kaduna.

The Executive Director of the CLEEN Foundation, Peter Maduoma, raised the concern on Thursday, October 15, 2026, warning that the existence of laws designed to protect victims would remain largely ineffective unless relevant institutions translated their provisions into tangible protection, timely justice and adequate support for survivors.

Maduoma spoke at the opening of a two-day state-level policy dialogue on bridging the implementation gap in the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition), VAPP Law.

The dialogue brought together stakeholders from government ministries, Kaduna State University, the National Human Rights Commission, civil society organisations and other institutions to examine the challenges undermining the implementation of the law and identify practical measures to improve access to justice for victims of sexual and gender-based violence.

Represented by the foundation’s Senior Finance and Administration Manager, Justina Johnson, Maduoma said the effectiveness of the law should not be measured by its enactment alone but by its ability to protect people experiencing violence and ensure that perpetrators are held accountable through the justice system.

“The real test of the law is not simply whether it has been enacted, but whether a person experiencing domestic violence can safely seek help and receive a timely response,” he said.

His remarks highlighted a persistent concern in the fight against gender-based violence: the gap between legal provisions and the practical experiences of survivors seeking protection, medical assistance, psychosocial support and justice.

For survivors, the journey towards justice can be complicated by fear, stigma, intimidation and institutional delays. Where investigations are poorly conducted, cases are inadequately prosecuted or support services are inaccessible, victims may struggle to obtain redress despite the existence of laws intended to protect them.

Maduoma stressed that survivors of sexual violence must be able to report abuses without intimidation, stigma or victim-blaming. He also emphasised the need for adequate protection for children exposed to violence, noting that vulnerable persons require effective institutional responses rather than assurances that laws are in place.

Identifying the major obstacles to effective implementation of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, Maduoma listed poor coordination among institutions, inadequate public awareness, weak investigation and prosecution, insufficient survivor-centred services and resource constraints.

He warned that these challenges must be examined carefully to determine where the system was failing and what practical interventions could improve its performance.

“These are issues that require careful examination rather than assumptions. We need to understand which challenges are most pronounced in Kaduna State, where institutional processes break down, what is already working, and which reforms are feasible within existing structures,” he said.

His position underscored the need for an evidence-based approach to addressing sexual and gender-based violence, with attention to the specific institutional, social and operational barriers affecting the implementation of the law in the state.

Effective implementation requires more than the passage of legislation. It also depends on the ability of law enforcement agencies to investigate allegations professionally, prosecutors to build cases supported by evidence, relevant government agencies to coordinate their responses and support institutions to provide survivors with appropriate assistance.

The availability of safe reporting channels is equally important, particularly for victims who fear retaliation, social rejection or the consequences of reporting abuse involving people who wield influence within their communities.

Without adequate protection and support, survivors may be discouraged from pursuing complaints, while delays and weaknesses in the justice process could further undermine public confidence in institutions responsible for enforcing the law.

The policy dialogue therefore provided an opportunity for stakeholders to assess the implementation challenges and identify reforms that could strengthen institutional accountability and improve the response to reported cases.

Beyond institutional weaknesses, participants raised concerns over allegations of sexual and gender-based violence involving some religious leaders, warning that the misuse of spiritual authority could expose women, girls and children to sexual exploitation and psychological trauma.

The discussions highlighted concerns about the vulnerability of people who seek spiritual guidance while experiencing marital difficulties, personal challenges or emotional distress.

According to issues raised at the dialogue, some women seeking such guidance were allegedly manipulated by religious leaders who attributed their problems to their husbands and, in some instances, encouraged them to leave their marriages or enter other relationships.

Participants warned that such alleged conduct could deepen family disputes, undermine trust within relationships and expose vulnerable women to further exploitation.

The concerns also drew attention to the unequal power dynamics that may arise when people seeking help place their trust in individuals regarded as spiritual authorities.

Participants stressed the importance of safeguarding people who seek religious counselling and ensuring that spiritual guidance does not become a means of manipulation, coercion or abuse.

While religious institutions play significant roles in many communities, stakeholders emphasised the need for appropriate safeguards and accountability mechanisms to protect people who turn to religious leaders for support.

The allegations discussed at the meeting were not presented as findings established by a court. Participants nevertheless called for appropriate safeguards and effective responses to allegations of sexual offences, regardless of the position or influence of the individuals involved.

Particularly disturbing was an allegation involving a child who was reportedly raped after being sent to deliver food to a religious leader.

A stakeholder at the dialogue said the alleged perpetrator reportedly claimed that the child had a disease and that the sexual assault was intended to remove it.

“The alleged perpetrator claimed that the child had a disease and that the sexual assault was intended to remove it,” the stakeholder said.

The allegation prompted concerns about the safety of children and the potential exploitation of cultural or spiritual beliefs to justify or conceal abusive conduct.

Participants described the account as disturbing and called for stronger safeguards to prevent the exploitation of children and other vulnerable people by individuals occupying positions of trust.

The discussion reinforced the importance of protecting children from sexual abuse, ensuring that allegations are reported promptly and providing appropriate support to victims and their families.

It also highlighted the need for public awareness campaigns to help communities recognise abusive conduct, understand how to report suspected offences and distinguish legitimate support services from practices that place vulnerable people at risk.

Stakeholders stressed that allegations of sexual offences must be handled through appropriate investigative and judicial processes, with the protection of victims and the rights of all parties respected.

The case discussed at the dialogue also underscored the importance of ensuring that children can access trusted reporting channels and that concerns about their safety are treated with urgency by the relevant authorities.

In response to the concerns raised, participants urged the Kaduna State Government to strengthen enforcement of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law and ensure that allegations of sexual offences are promptly investigated and prosecuted where supported by evidence.

They also called for closer collaboration among law enforcement agencies, the judiciary, government institutions, religious organisations and civil society groups to improve the prevention, reporting and prosecution of sexual offences.

The stakeholders maintained that an effective response to gender-based violence requires coordinated action across institutions rather than isolated interventions.

Such collaboration, they argued, would help address weaknesses in the handling of complaints, improve referrals between relevant agencies and ensure that survivors receive appropriate assistance throughout the reporting and justice processes.

They also emphasised the importance of survivor-centred services, including access to protection, counselling and other forms of support that can help victims navigate the aftermath of abuse.

For the law to deliver meaningful results, participants indicated that institutions must be prepared to respond promptly to complaints, conduct credible investigations and ensure that cases are handled professionally and without undue influence.

Public awareness was another key concern, with stakeholders stressing that communities need better information about the protections available under the law, the procedures for reporting abuse and the responsibilities of institutions charged with responding to complaints.

The dialogue also provided an opportunity to examine the practical constraints facing implementing agencies and identify reforms that could be pursued within existing institutional structures.

Maduoma urged participants to use the dialogue to develop practical recommendations capable of translating the provisions of the law into meaningful protection for survivors.

He called for a renewed commitment to institutional accountability, effective coordination and the removal of barriers that prevent victims from accessing justice.

The executive director said the collective responsibility of stakeholders was to ensure that legal commitments resulted in measurable improvements in the safety and welfare of people affected by violence.

“Together, we can translate statutory commitments into meaningful protection for all,” he said.

The statement reinforced the central message of the dialogue: that the success of the VAPP Law depends not only on its provisions but also on the willingness and capacity of institutions to enforce it effectively.

For Kaduna State, this means examining how complaints are received, how investigations are conducted, how survivors are protected and how cases progress through the justice system.

It also means identifying gaps in funding, staffing, public awareness and institutional coordination that may prevent the law from achieving its intended objectives

Also speaking, a Senior State Counsel and prosecutor with the Kaduna State Ministry of Justice, Ambassador Sarah Gajere-Peters, described the alleged involvement of religious leaders in sexual offences as alarming and deeply troubling.

“Cases we have received from religious leaders including pastors, imams and sheikhs, are becoming more these days.

“So I am wondering what they are teaching the people,” she said.

Gajere-Peters recalled instances in which places of worship were reportedly used by religious leaders to sexually abuse young girls, describing the development as a disturbing betrayal of public trust.

She said religious leaders were expected to preach against sexual violence and protect their followers, rather than exploit their positions to perpetrate abuse.

“Religious leaders are custodians of the trust reposed in them by the people. They leverage that trust because people believe in them.

“When people come for counselling, prayers or worship, some allegedly take them into secluded places and perpetrate such evil,” she stressed.

The prosecutor warned that the Ministry of Justice would pursue appropriate legal action against religious leaders found culpable of sexual offences, calling for the maximum punishment prescribed by law to be applied where offenders were convicted.

“We are saying no to it. We are joining the general public to call on everyone to say no to sexual and gender-based violence by religious leaders,” she said, while noting that SGBV was also perpetrated by people outside religious institutions.

Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Government said it had introduced measures to strengthen support services for survivors and improve the reporting and management of SGBV cases.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Rabi Salisu, represented by her Senior Special Assistant, Hajiya Mariam Mua’zu, said the government had made budgetary provisions for Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) to improve services for survivors.

She explained that the centres provided a one-stop service through which survivors could access relevant support, adding that the government was strengthening their operations across the state.

According to her, the state has also introduced a referral protocol and a toll-free telephone line to improve coordination among service providers and encourage timely reporting of cases.

Mua’zu said improved reporting had helped break the culture of silence surrounding sexual and gender-based violence, making it easier for survivors to seek assistance.

She added that the government had provided shelter facilities for vulnerable persons, including a boys’ shelter at Aliyu Makama Road, Barnawa, and a women and children’s centre along Katuru Road.

The facilities, she said, were equipped to provide protection and support for survivors and other vulnerable persons.

Stakeholders are expected to use the discussions to develop recommendations aimed at improving institutional compliance, strengthening accountability and making justice more accessible to survivors of violence.

The CLEEN Foundation acknowledged the support of the Royal Norwegian Embassy, noting that the partnership had created opportunities for policy engagement, institutional strengthening and efforts to promote more responsive and accountable justice and security institutions in Nigeria.

The organisation said the engagement formed part of broader efforts to strengthen institutional responses to violence and improve the implementation of laws designed to protect vulnerable people.

The two-day dialogue is expected to produce recommendations addressing the implementation gaps identified by participants, with particular attention to institutional coordination, law enforcement, survivor protection and accountability.

Whether those recommendations translate into lasting improvements will depend on the commitment of relevant authorities and institutions to implement practical reforms and monitor their impact.

Ultimately, the challenge confronting Kaduna State is not simply whether legal protections against sexual and gender-based violence exist, but whether those protections can be accessed by people who need them most.

For survivors, the measure of success will be whether they can report abuse without fear, receive timely protection and support, and pursue justice through a system that responds professionally and holds offenders accountable where allegations are proven.

As the dialogue continues, stakeholders face the task of turning their concerns into concrete actions that strengthen the implementation of the law and help ensure that the promise of protection becomes a reality for survivors across the state.

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