Adamawa Police, UNFPA Train Over 80 Gender Desk Officers on Handling GBV Cases
By Ojoma Yusuf,Yola
The Adamawa State Police Command, in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has concluded the second phase of a two-day capacity-building workshop aimed at enhancing the handling of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases across the state.
The training, which took place in Yola, brought together over 80 Gender Desk Officers from all 54 divisional police headquarters in the state.
The initiative is designed to improve the officers’ ability to receive reports, investigate cases, and discreetly prosecute GBV offenders in line with best practices.
Speaking at the opening of the training, the Commissioner of Police, Dankombo Morris, represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Administration, John D. Sandere, urged participants to take full advantage of the opportunity.
He emphasized that Gender Desk Officers represent the face of the police in dealing with sensitive gender-related issues and must be properly equipped to respond professionally and empathetically.
In a media briefing, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje, explained that the workshop aims to empower desk officers with updated knowledge and practical skills to effectively address GBV cases.
He added that the training would encourage survivors to report incidents, knowing they would receive justice through competent and confidential processes.
“Officers will return to their respective divisions to step down the training, thereby spreading the impact and improving overall response to GBV across the state,” Nguroje said. “The public is urged to trust the police and report any GBV or distress situation promptly.”
Bilkisu Ahmed Graba, Founder of the Sarauniya Aid Foundation and one of the facilitators, described the training as timely and necessary. She noted that GBV remains a serious challenge and police officers need constant retraining to stay updated on best practices in handling such cases. She commended UNFPA for its continued support and collaboration with the Adamawa State Police Command.
“Desk officers must be firm, knowledgeable, and compassionate in handling GBV cases. This training will significantly upgrade their capacity,” Graba said.
Speaking on behalf of the participants, Inspector Ijudigal Mperiju expressed appreciation to the Police Command and UNFPA for organizing the training. He assured that the knowledge gained would be applied at the grassroots level to enhance the fight against GBV in their respective divisions.
