The Executive Director of the CLEEN Foundation, Peter Maduoma, has raised concerns over weak investigation and prosecution of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) cases in Kaduna State, warning that poor institutional coordination and inadequate support for survivors are undermining efforts to combat abuse.
Maduoma spoke on Wednesday at the opening of a two-day policy dialogue on bridging the implementation gap in the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, organised by the CLEEN Foundation in Kaduna.
Represented by the foundation’s Senior Finance and Administration Manager, Justina Johnson, he said enacting laws would not guarantee justice unless survivors could safely report abuse, access protection and receive timely responses from relevant institutions.
Maduoma said: “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 stressed that survivors of sexual violence should be able to report abuse without intimidation, stigma or victim-blaming, while children exposed to violence must receive adequate protection.
The foundation’s executive director identified poor coordination among institutions, inadequate public awareness, weak investigation and prosecution, insufficient survivor-centred services and resource constraints as major obstacles to effective implementation of the law.
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He said: “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.”
The dialogue brought together representatives of government ministries, Kaduna State University, the National Human Rights Commission, the CLEEN Foundation and other institutions to examine implementation gaps and identify ways to improve survivors’ access to justice.
Participants also expressed concern 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.
They discussed allegations that some women seeking spiritual guidance over marital and personal challenges had been manipulated by religious leaders who blamed their husbands for their problems and, in some cases, encouraged them to leave their marriages or enter other relationships.
The participants warned that such alleged practices could worsen family disputes and expose vulnerable women to further exploitation.
They also considered an allegation involving a child who was reportedly raped after being sent to deliver food to a religious leader.
A stakeholder said: “The alleged perpetrator claimed that the child had a disease and that the sexual assault was intended to remove it.”
Participants described the allegation as disturbing and called for stronger safeguards to prevent the exploitation of children and other vulnerable people by individuals in positions of trust.
They urged the Kaduna State Government to strengthen enforcement of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law and ensure allegations of sexual offences were 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.
Maduoma urged participants to develop practical recommendations that would translate the law’s provisions into meaningful protection for survivors and strengthen accountability among institutions.
He said: “Together, we can translate statutory commitments into meaningful protection for all.”
The CLEEN Foundation acknowledged the support of the Royal Norwegian Embassy, saying the partnership had provided opportunities for policy engagement, institutional strengthening and efforts to promote more responsive and accountable justice and security institutions in Nigeria.
The two-day dialogue is expected to identify gaps in the implementation of the law in Kaduna State and recommend measures to improve institutional compliance, strengthen accountability and ensure survivors of violence receive adequate protection and access to justice.
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