Amotekun To Establish Gender Desk To Tackle Sexual, Gender-Based Violence In Oyo

The Oyo State Security Network Agency, popularly known as the Amotekun Corps, has announced plans to establish a gender desk and train selected officers to handle cases of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) across the state.

The initiative is aimed at strengthening the Corps’ response to sexual offences, protecting survivors’ dignity and improving referrals to appropriate medical, psychosocial and other support services.

The development followed an advocacy visit by a delegation of the European Union-funded Support to End Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (ESGBV) Programme, implemented by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), to the Corps in Oyo State.

Speaking on behalf of the state Commandant, Col. Olayinka Olayanju (rtd.), the Board Secretary and Legal Adviser, Mrs. Sandra Tella, said the Corps currently receives reports of sexual offences and gender-based violence through its various local government offices but has no designated officers specifically assigned to handle such cases.

She explained that Amotekun conducts preliminary investigations into reported cases before referring them to the police for further investigation and necessary legal proceedings.

Tella welcomed the proposed capacity-building initiative, expressing the Corps’ readiness to collaborate with the programme to improve its handling of SGBV cases and ensure that affected persons receive appropriate assistance.

The Component Manager of the ESGBV Programme, Mrs. Juliet Olumuyiwa, said the advocacy visit was designed to identify practical areas of collaboration with the Corps, particularly in strengthening case documentation, improving referral pathways and ensuring that survivors receive appropriate support without discrimination or further trauma.

She said the programme seeks to strengthen Nigeria’s institutional response to sexual and gender-based violence through improved legal frameworks, survivor-centred services and community sensitisation.

According to her, International IDEA, an intergovernmental organisation working with governments to strengthen democracy and the rule of law, is implementing the programme with funding from the European Union.

She noted that the initiative operates in selected locations, including Oyo State, with a focus on strengthening existing government institutions and mechanisms for a coordinated and sustainable response to gender-based violence.

Olumuyiwa stressed that survivors often require more than police investigations and prosecution, noting that medical treatment, psychosocial support, temporary shelter and other essential services are critical to their recovery and protection.

She highlighted the importance of prompt medical referrals following sexual assault, particularly where time-sensitive interventions are required.

Citing HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), she explained that the medication should generally be initiated within 72 hours of possible exposure, underscoring the need for trained personnel and effective referral systems.

The programme manager urged the Corps to identify compassionate and dedicated officers to serve as focal persons for receiving complaints and directing survivors to appropriate facilities, including Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs), where available.

She commended the Amotekun Corps for its contributions to community safety and security, noting that its frontline personnel were often approached by residents seeking assistance, including victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse.

Olumuyiwa added that the programme would continue to engage relevant government institutions, civil society organisations, healthcare providers and justice sector stakeholders to promote a coordinated, accessible and sustainable response to sexual and gender-based violence.