Mrs. Priscilla Otti, the wife of the governor of Abia State, has called for collective action against gender-based violence (GBV) and the issue of illegal baby factories in the state. Her appeal was made during a walk in Umuahia, marking the beginning of a 16-day activism campaign against GBV. The focus of this initiative is to empower women and girls while fostering a more inclusive and secure environment within Abia State. She emphasized that the government is fully committed to ensuring the rights and protections of women, girls, and minors through a series of legislative and community-focused efforts, including translating the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law into local languages for better accessibility.
Highlighting her husband’s administration’s commitment to combatting GBV, Mrs. Otti underscored a zero-tolerance policy towards such violence. She announced plans to bolster the committee responsible for protecting vulnerable populations, ensuring that justice for victims is both swift and effective. In a proactive measure against future abuses, she revealed that the state government is initiating the re-accreditation of motherless babies’ homes to prevent their misuse for illicit activities, signaling a concerted effort to uphold the dignity and security of vulnerable girls in the state.
Mrs. Otti shared an experience from the United Nations Population Fund Gender-Based Violence and Harmful Social Norms Summit, where she represented Abia alongside other First Ladies. This summit resulted in a compact with UNFPA aimed at dismantling harmful societal norms that perpetuate gender-based violence. She described various forms of GBV, including domestic violence, female genital mutilation, child marriage, and human trafficking, asserting that these practices violate fundamental human rights and have a detrimental effect on community growth and societal health.
Notably, under Mrs. Otti’s leadership, significant strides have been made in the fight against GBV. She recounted the rescue of 21 pregnant teenagers from an illegal charity home in Umunkpeyi, who had been victims of child trafficking. Following their rehabilitation, the girls were reunited with their families, and the illegal facility was permanently shut down. Further efforts to empower the Abia indigenes among the rescued girls included providing them with resources to start small businesses, showcasing a model of recovery and empowerment that aims to break the cycle of poverty and exploitation.
In March 2024, another baby factory was discovered in Aba, revealing a situation where 16 pregnant teenagers were being held. Mrs. Otti expressed deep concern over this and emphasized ongoing rehabilitation efforts and swift legal action against those responsible. The administration is presently reviewing laws concerning brothels amidst alarming evidence of sexual exploitation of underage girls. She also mentioned the arrest of a pastor for abuse against his daughter, reinforcing the state’s commitment to prosecuting offenders and protecting vulnerable individuals.
Addressing the deeper issues fueling GBV, Mrs. Otti acknowledged poverty, unemployment, and lack of education as root causes that must be addressed. Her office is dedicated to implementing skills acquisition programs and financial support initiatives targeted at empowering vulnerable girls and women. The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Maureen Aghukwa, echoed that while the discourse on GBV predominantly centers around women, the awareness campaign aims to enlighten all community members about their rights and responsibilities towards one another, fostering a respectful and safer environment for all.
