Ahead of the anticipated flood, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and Benue State Government have trained 200 security personnel on handling Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.
Ms Mediatrice Barengayabo, Head, IOM Benue Sub-Office, stated this at the closing of the 4-day training on Saturday in Makurdi.
She said that even though the officers already have their professional training to function, they still need certain training to effectively respond to the people during disasters.
Barengayabo said the training would help the officers to handle all manner of GBV and prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and trafficking in persons when the cases arise while on duty.
According to her, IOM is committed to supporting the efforts of preparedness in disaster management, especially now that the water level in River Benue is at a critical stage.
“I’m very sure that you will work out here with the capacity to go out there and train others and have conversations that will help them think differently.
The Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Aondowase Kunde, urged the participants to ensure that they bring the knowledge gained during the training to bear in the discharge of their duties going forward.
Kunde said that the state government was collaborating with the IOM to ensure that such cases were not recorded in the would-be camps in the state.
The commissioner regretted that in some cases, officers who were supposed to protect the people turn to abuse them and urged the participants to educate their colleagues on the need to respect human dignity.
He called on the Federal Government to quickly complete the Kashimbila Dam to mitigate the impact of the release of water from Lodo Dam on Nigerians.
Commissioner for Water Resources and Climate Change, Odoh Ugwu, said the water level of River Benue is now at 10.5 metres, which he said was stable.
Mrs Ann Itodo, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, remarked that the ministry was committed to eradicating heinous crimes associated with GBV, sexual exploitation, abuse, and trafficking in persons.
Represented by Mrs Doofan Yange, a staff of the ministry, Itodo said the training was to protect vulnerable people and the community during disasters.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the officers were selected from different security. agencies.
(NAN)
