NSCDC, FG intensify push to end conflict-related sexual violence

Nigeria's security and government leadership have announced renewed efforts to combat sexual violence occurring during armed conflicts and security crises. The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development both issued statements this week reaffirming their commitment to protecting vulnerable populations and bringing offenders to account.

The NSCDC, led by its leadership, stressed the importance of placing survivors at the center of response strategies rather than treating protection as an afterthought. The agency said it plans to strengthen its operational capacity to prevent abuse and support those harmed.

Officials also emphasized the need for collaboration across security agencies and with civil society organizations to make interventions more effective. The Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, headed by Imaan Sulaiman Ibrahim, highlighted the cascading damage that sexual violence in conflict situations causes beyond immediate victims.

The ministry noted that such violence weakens families, destabilizes communities, and impedes national recovery efforts. The government has indicated that legal frameworks protecting survivors and ensuring perpetrator accountability remain central to its approach.

The ministry referenced ongoing implementation of the Renewed Hope Social Impact Intervention programme across Nigeria's 774 local government areas, positioning child protection and women's empowerment as priorities under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration. Both the NSCDC and the ministry aligned their statements with international standards for handling conflict-related sexual violence, suggesting coordination with global best practices rather than domestic frameworks alone.