The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has declared that no institution, organisation or other body has the authority to determine or resolve sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) cases outside the established judicial process.
He stressed that perpetrators must be subjected to the law to ensure justice for survivors and victims.
The agency’s Head of Media and Public Relation at its Headquarters in Abuja, Mr Vincent Adekoye, stated this during an European Union (EU) and International IDEA-sponsored mentorship programme for members of the Oyo State ESGBV Media Corps.
The programme, held at Golden Tulip Hotel, Ibadan, provided a platform for members of the Oyo State ESGBV Media Corps to assess their progress, review activities undertaken since its establishment in August 2026 and identify challenges confronting efforts to combat sexual and gender-based violence across the state.
Adekoye’s position followed a report presented by one of the participants, who disclosed that findings from field investigations suggested that some sexual offence cases were being settled outside the courtroom without formal judicial pronouncements.
Expressing concern over the revelation, the NAPTIP representative insisted that cases involving sexual offences must be handled in accordance with the law, warning against practices that could undermine the pursuit of justice and allow perpetrators to evade accountability.
He maintained that only a court of competent jurisdiction could make binding judicial pronouncements on criminal cases, emphasising the need for stakeholders to ensure that allegations of sexual and gender-based violence were not improperly handled through informal settlements or arrangements outside the justice system.
Adekoye urged journalists to intensify engagement with relevant stakeholders, including law enforcement agencies, judicial authorities, social workers, community leaders and organisations working to protect vulnerable persons, to strengthen the response to SGBV and ensure that survivors receive justice.
He said coordinated action among stakeholders was essential to curbing the menace, adding that perpetrators must be made to face the full weight of the law rather than being shielded by cultural and religious practices that could compromise investigations or deny survivors access to justice.
The NAPTIP representative also called on media practitioners to sustain professional vigilance in reporting SGBV incidents, noting that perpetrators were continually devising new methods to commit such offences.
Citing several ongoing and concluded cases handled by the agency, Adekoye said the evolving nature of sexual and gender-based crimes required journalists to remain alert, deepen their understanding of the issues and report developments with accuracy, sensitivity and professionalism.
He stressed the importance of adhering to global best practices in SGBV reporting, particularly in the handling of survivors’ accounts, the protection of identities and the presentation of information in ways that would not expose victims to further harm, stigma or discrimination.
He urged members of the Media Corps to move beyond merely reporting incidents to investigating systemic challenges, identifying gaps in institutional responses and holding relevant authorities accountable for their responsibilities in preventing and addressing SGBV.
The mentorship programme also provided an opportunity for participants to reflect on activities carried out by the Media Corps, share field experiences and examine how media interventions could contribute more effectively to the prevention of sexual violence and the promotion of survivor-centred justice.
Participants in their separate contributions noted that the concerns raised during the session reflect the need for greater public awareness and advocacy of the dangers of informal settlements in sexual offence cases, particularly where such arrangements could discourage survivors from pursuing justice or impede the proper investigation of alleged crimes.
Stakeholders have continued to stress that effective responses to SGBV require more than public condemnation of offenders. They also demand accessible reporting channels, prompt investigations, appropriate survivor support services and a justice system capable of holding perpetrators accountable in accordance with the law.
Recall that the European Union, in collaboration with NAPTIP and International IDEA, had earlier organised an intensive two-day capacity-building workshop for selected media practitioners in Oyo State as part of its long-term efforts to combat sexual and gender-based violence in Nigeria.
The workshop was organised under the EU Support to End Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Programme and implemented by International IDEA, with the objective of strengthening journalists’ capacity towards the establishment of a dedicated SGBV Media Corps in the state.
The initiative was designed to improve the quality, ethics and coordination of media and community-based communication on SGBV, while encouraging a shift away from sensationalist and fragmented reporting towards professional, survivor-centred, evidence-based and action-oriented journalism.
Through the establishment of the Media Corps and subsequent mentorship activities, the programme seeks to adequately equip participating journalists with the skills and knowledge required to report SGBV cases responsibly, challenge harmful social norms, amplify the voices of survivors without compromising their safety and encourage timely institutional responses.
Also present at the event were the Oyo state Commander of NAPTIP, Mr Kayode Alfred and the state ESGBV Media Corps Mentor, Mr Armfree Ajanaku.
