Abia State Establishes Rehabilitation Center for GBV Survivors

On Monday, Dr. Alex Otti, the Governor of Abia State, signed a law to establish a rehabilitation center for survivors of rape, gender-based violence (GBV), and human trafficking.

The law, titled the "Abia State Centre for Rehabilitation of Survivors of Rape, Gender-Based Violence, and Human Trafficking Law 2026," received expedited passage from the Abia State House of Assembly, which Otti commended for its swift action. He expressed gratitude to the assembly and acknowledged the contributions of various stakeholders, including his wife, Priscilla Otti, who played a significant role in initiating the bill.

Otti emphasized the need for societal reorientation to address the root causes of gender-based violence and stated that the establishment of the center is just the beginning. He noted that acts such as rape and human trafficking are alien to Igbo culture and called for community engagement to reduce criminal behavior.

The bill was passed under the leadership of Speaker Emmanuel Emeruwa, who highlighted its importance in rehabilitating victims of violence.