The Akwa Ibom State Government has recorded a major breakthrough in its fight against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), securing the conviction and imprisonment of eight offenders in June 2026 alone for rape, physical assault and attempted murder.
The Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady and Chairperson of the Akwa Ibom State Gender-Based Violence Management Committee, Lady Helen Eno Obareki, disclosed this during a thanksgiving service to mark the end of the 2026 Gender-Based Violence Awareness Month at the Presbyterian Church, Uyo.
She revealed that the convictions comprised five rape cases, two cases of physical assault and one attempted murder, describing the achievement as a clear demonstration of the state government’s resolve to ensure perpetrators face justice.
Obareki attributed the successful prosecutions to stronger collaboration among security agencies, prosecutors and the judiciary, stressing that Governor Umo Eno’s administration remains committed to protecting women, children and other vulnerable persons.
She described the attempted murder conviction secured on June 25 as particularly significant, noting that it was the first GBV case recorded during the tenure of the late wife of Governor Umo Eno, Pastor Patience Umo Eno, as First Lady.
“That attempted murder case is deeply personal. It was the very first case recorded during the tenure of my dear mother, Her Excellency, Pastor Patience Umo Eno, as First Lady of Akwa Ibom State. That it has now resulted in a conviction is not just justice served; it is a testament that the foundation she laid continues to yield results and that her passion for protecting the vulnerable lives on,” she said.
Obareki said the convictions should serve as a strong warning to perpetrators while reassuring survivors that justice remains attainable.
“This sends a clear and unmistakable message that in Akwa Ibom State, violence will not be tolerated and justice will be pursued without compromise,” she declared.
She added that the state government has strengthened legal frameworks for prosecuting GBV offenders, expanded medical and psychosocial support for survivors and simplified reporting channels to encourage victims to seek justice without fear.
According to her, increased collaboration among security agencies, investments in social protection programmes and community-based interventions have further improved access to justice across the state.
Obareki also praised civil society organisations, development partners, security agencies and the Ministry of Justice for sustaining advocacy throughout the month-long awareness campaign.
She highlighted the impact of the Patience Umo Eno Golden Initiative For All (GIFA), saying that, with support from partners including the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), survivors have received vocational training, business grants, sewing machines and other start-up kits to rebuild their lives.
She stressed that poverty, dependency and ignorance remain major drivers of gender-based violence, insisting that economic empowerment and stronger family structures are key to prevention.
“GIFA strikes directly at the root vulnerabilities that expose our people to exploitation and abuse. When a family is stable, a woman is economically empowered and a child is protected by community structures, the oxygen is cut off from Gender-Based Violence,” she said.
She urged religious bodies, traditional institutions, government agencies, NGOs and community groups to continue providing safe spaces for victims to report abuse without fear of stigma.
Addressing young people, Obareki challenged them to use their voices and social media platforms to reject violence and promote respect and accountability.
“The culture of silence ends with your generation. The normalisation of abuse stops with your hands. I call on young men to redefine strength. True strength does not oppress or intimidate; it protects and preserves. I also call on young women to find their voices, pull down walls of fear and lift each other up,” she added.
Also speaking, the Secretary of the Akwa Ibom State Gender-Based Violence Management Committee, Barr. Emem Ette, appreciated stakeholders, particularly over 50 non-governmental organisations, for supporting the statewide awareness campaign.
Ette urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant, warning that perpetrators are often trusted relatives, friends and close associates. She encouraged residents to promptly report cases of abuse and support survivors in seeking justice.
The thanksgiving service attracted members of the Gender-Based Violence Management Committee, the Coalition Against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, development partners and other stakeholders who participated in the month-long campaign.
