The Katsina State Government has encouraged parents and caregivers to stop hiding gender-based violence and child abuse cases no matter how closely related they are to offenders.

According to the State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon. Hadiza Yar’adua, emergency toll-free lines are always available for reporting issues relating to Gender Based Violence in the State.

Hon. Yar’adua was speaking on Friday during a Community Sensitisation on Gender-Based Violence tagged: “Say No to GBV, Demand Accountability, Stand for Justice, Support Survivors” held at Tudun Yan-lihidda Community in the State Capital.

“We have resolved to meet with parents and their children. We must take good care of our children because God will ask us to account in the hereafter. Our findings have shown that most of the gender-based violence occurs on a daily basis hence it is not something to hide. And we promised that the offenders must be punished in line with the existing laws.

“It’s confirmed to us that you the parents are the ones fueling the situation because you are so reluctant to cooperate with us in taking action, that’s why we have to reach out to you first to address the issue.

“Recalled that, of recent, a ten-year-old boy was brought to us alleging that, for a period of one year, a security guard has been having unlawful canal knowledge of him. His mother brought the victim to our office. This is very disheartening. This happens.

“Some young girls are being sent to a forced marriage where in most cases, the husbands end up misusing them. Thus we will continue to remain committed in this direction”, Yar’adua restated.

Earlier on Tuesday 18th 2025, the wife of the Katsina State Governor, Hajiya Fatima Radda paid a solidarity visit to female and male inmates who are serving their various jail terms at the Katsina Central Correctional Center.

The aim of the visit was for her to look at their conditions and to have an idea about their immediate needs with a view to assisting them and proffering solutions to their problems.

Mrs Radda who was accompanied by the State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajiya Hadiza Yar’adua, emphasized how it feels for one to lose freedom and be separated from their loved ones.

While at the Pharmacy of the Correctional Center, the governor’s wife donated the sum of five hundred thousand Naira (N500,000) for the purchase of additional drugs and medicines for the inmates.

“The Katsina State Ministry of Women Affairs and that of Heath as well as Justice Ministry will meet to see the possibility of pardoning some of the inmates”. Mrs Radda noted.

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In a remark, the State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajiya Hadiza Yar’adua noted that the ministry is looking at inclusivity hence visiting the female and male Correctional Centers in the State to encourage them.

“We are of course looking at inclusivity. Even those women behind bars we are not leaving them behind. The ones we can just help get justice for them we will through the office of the executive governor.

“So it’s just to show solidarity that we are behind them and we are here to support them. We came to encourage them and proffer solutions to their problems.

“We have heard and noted all their complaints and we will compile a report and sit with the Ministry of Health and that of the justice to better their situation and their livelihoods.

“We will want to thank the wife of the governor for donating 500 thousand Naira to the inmates pharmacy for the purchase of more drugs”, she added.