Nigeria: Police, advocates, and traditional leaders collaborate to free 57 women from 'money woman' debt bondage in Cross River State
via Punch Nigeria3 min read
A collaborative effort involving the Nigeria Police, women’s rights advocates, and traditional authorities has led to the freedom of 57 women from the “money woman” practice in Becheve communities of Obanliku Local Government Area, Cross River State. This intervention follows the formal abolition of the custom, which historically used young girls as collateral for family debts. Dr. Otive Igbuzor, Founding Executive Director of the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development, announced that N6.2 million was raised to facilitate the release of the first group of women. He emphasized the goal to document this model for replication in other communities. Erelu Fayemi, former First Lady of Ekiti State, highlighted the widespread nature of harmful traditional practices across Nigeria and called on men, who hold significant power in their communities, to help end these practices. The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, represented by Deputy Force Secretary Suleiman Gulma, affirmed the police's commitment to supporting victims and tackling related abuses, noting the establishment of gender-based violence desks in police commands nationwide. HRH Amos Uyumulam, Paramount Ruler of the area, read a communiqué reaffirming the practice's abolition and outlining steps for enforcement, including the return of a N100,000 bride price to free the women. This initiative showcases increasing collaboration among civil society, law enforcement, and traditional institutions to add
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Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, stated that President Bola Tinubu is intentionally working towards the reconstruction of the South-East through significant infrastructure projects. Soludo described the President's recent approval for two major federal roads as a historic achievement for the region. On his X handle, Soludo expressed excitement over the Federal Government's approval for the design and procurement of the Otuocha–Anam–Abaji Road, which links Anambra to Kogi State, and the Oba–Nnewi–Uga–Ihube Road, connecting Anambra and Imo to the Enugu–Port Harcourt Expressway. The governor noted that these projects highlight Tinubu's dedication to rebuilding the South-East and addressing long-standing infrastructural deficits. Soludo mentioned that he met with President Tinubu on July 1, after which the Minister of Works, David Umahi, requested details of the discussed road projects. Soludo submitted the details on July 3 and received confirmation on Tuesday, July 15, that the President had approved both projects for design and procurement. He described the roads as transformative, expecting them to significantly improve connectivity across the South-East, South-South, and North-Central regions. Soludo concluded by thanking the President, stating that history would be kind to him.
Must ReadNigeria's Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, stated that 30 to 50 percent of offenses committed by inmates in African correctional centers do not warrant incarceration. Speaking at a regional conference in Abuja, he urged correctional authorities to assess overcrowding, noting that 93 percent of Nigerian inmates are state offenders, many held for minor infractions. Tunji-Ojo revealed that a review of inmates held for minor fines led to the decongestion of correctional centers by five percent. He also highlighted a significant decline in recidivism in Nigeria, from 13,000 cases in 2023 to 1,000 last year, attributing this to expanded education and vocational training for inmates. The Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, emphasized Nigeria's modernization efforts through the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2019, and the importance of prisoner classification for rehabilitation and resource deployment. He described the conference as an opportunity for collective learning and sharing solutions among African correctional systems.
The Police Service Commission has released the names of 50,000 successful applicants for recruitment into the Nigeria Police Force. The commission stated that the exercise was comprehensive, inclusive, equitable, and transparent, conducted in collaboration with stakeholders such as the Nigeria Police Force, Federal Character Commission, and the Ministry of Police Affairs. Candidates who took the recent written examination can check their recruitment status on the official portal, which opened on Thursday. Successful candidates will also receive notifications via email and SMS. Those confirmed successful are required to report to designated police training institutions for medical examination and documentation on dates and times to be communicated. Failure to report within the stipulated time will be considered a decline of the offer. Additionally, candidates who fail the medical examination conducted by the police medical team upon resuming training will be declared unfit and asked to leave. Recruits must bring their training call-up slip, NIN slip, BVN slip, original and photocopies of certificates, and other required documents. This recruitment is part of the Federal Government's ongoing efforts to increase police manpower and enhance internal security nationwide.