Katsina declares war on human trafficking, gender-based violence

Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, has declared his readiness to combat human trafficking, sexual and gender-based violence, and violence against persons in the state.

He made the declaration on Thursday while hosting the State Taskforce Committee, led by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Fadila Dikko, in his office.

Radda commended the task force for its achievements in rehabilitating victims and mitigating the effects of child abuse and trafficking in the state.

He emphasised the need for enhanced strategies to address the rising cases of violence, particularly sexual abuse against women.

“We must adopt more robust measures to free Katsina State from all forms of violence and child abuse.

“My administration is determined to provide all necessary resources for the task force to fulfil its mandate effectively.”

In her remark, the commissioner intimated to the governor about the task force’s accomplishments which include conducting medical outreach, providing school bags to 80 human trafficking victims, organising skills acquisition training for 30 victims, and offering psychological support to survivors.

The task force has undertaken public awareness campaigns through radio programs and plans to provide soft loans to over 100 youths and scholarships to students in the state, though inadequate funding remains a significant challenge.

In late September 2024, the governor reaffirmed his commitment to continue investing in critical infrastructure and supporting entrepreneurship and innovations to further develop the state