Spousal battery has emerged as the most prevalent form of Gender-based Violence (GBV) in Akwa Ibom State in 2026, as the state government disclosed that no fewer than 102 offenders have been convicted under the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law since its enactment in 2020.
Statistics released on Tuesday by the Director of the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Response Department in the Ministry of Justice, Barrister Emem Ette, showed that the state recorded 1,838 GBV cases between 2020 and May 2026, with 161 fresh incidents reported in the first five months of this year alone.
The figures were unveiled during the flag-off of the June 2026 Gender-Based Violence Awareness Month in Uyo.
According to the data, spousal battery accounted for the highest number of reported cases in 2026 with 61 incidents, followed by threat to life and physical assault with 46 cases. Rape cases stood at 26, while abandonment and forceful ejection recorded 18 cases. Harmful widowhood practices accounted for 10 cases.
A breakdown of the 2026 statistics showed that January recorded 27 cases, February 23, March 28, while April and May witnessed the highest figures with 40 cases each.
Victims of the reported cases were aged between three and 50 years, underscoring the vulnerability of women and children to abuse across the state.
The ministry’s records further revealed a steady rise in GBV cases since the VAPP Law came into force in June 2020. While 69 cases were reported between June and December 2020, the figure rose to 141 in 2021, 316 in 2022 and 368 in 2023. Cases peaked at 465 in 2024 before dropping to 318 in 2025.
Speaking at the event, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Uko Udom (SAN), said the increasing number of reports should not be mistaken for a rise in crime but rather growing public confidence in the justice system.
He said: “Since the passage of the Akwa Ibom State VAPP Law in June 2020, we have recorded over 2,000 reported cases of gender-based violence across the state. Out of these, we have secured over 100 convictions. These are not just statistics; each conviction sends a clear message that impunity will no longer be tolerated in Akwa Ibom State.”
Udom said the Ministry of Justice had established a dedicated Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Response Department to coordinate prosecution of offenders, implementation of the VAPP Law and support services for survivors.
According to him, the state government has also established shelters, Sexual Assault Referral Centres and skill acquisition centres to provide free medical care, counselling, vocational training and psychosocial support for victims.
He added that GBV response units have been created in all 31 local government areas, while community health workers, social welfare officers and security personnel have been trained as paralegals to assist survivors.
The Attorney-General, however, decried the growing trend of out-of-court settlements in GBV cases, warning that such practices often shield perpetrators from justice.
“When a child is defiled, when a wife is battered unconscious, when a person’s ribs are broken, there is no settlement that restores dignity. What often happens is that money changes hands and justice is buried,” he said.
He also expressed concern over the granting of bail to suspects in serious GBV cases, noting that it frequently exposes survivors and witnesses to intimidation.
“When an abuser returns home on bail to the same environment where the survivor lives, the justice system is sending the wrong signal. This is a structural failure that must be addressed,” he stated.
Udom called on judges and magistrates to exercise greater caution in granting bail to suspects accused of severe gender-based violence offences, stressing that the safety of survivors must remain paramount.
He also commended Barrister Emem Ette for her commitment and dedication to the fight against gender-based violence in the state.
