Osun NSCDC advices survivors of gender-based violence to speak up 

CITIZENS COMPASS – THE Nigeria Security Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) has advised females in Osun state to always speak out when they are being abused.

National Association of Online Security News Publishers, (NAOSN) reports that the charge to break the silence was made by various speakers during the first year celebration of NSCDC Special Female Squad in Osun state.

The Zonal Commander in charge of Zone J, Assistant Commandant General(ACG) Fasiu Adeyinka told the schoolchildren to be fearless in speaking out when they are going through or being lured into sexual and gender-based violence at the first anniversary of the Special Female Squad of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Osun State Command, Osogbo.

Adeyinka also lauded the Commandant General of NSCDC, Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi mni OFR for deeming it fit to establish the Squad. He described Dr. Audi as a true father who felt there was a need to put an end to kidnapping and banditry activities within and around schools across the country. ACG Adeyinka was represented by the Deputy Commandant of Corps Sanusi Adewunmi Saliu at the event.

Also speaking, the State Commandant, CC Agboola Sunday ably represented by his second-in-command, Deputy Commandant of Corps, Adeoti Olayinka Joseph stated that the establishment of Special Female Squad was never by accident but God knows the trained female officers have a special assignment in the development of the country (Nigeria). The State Commandant noted that children are leaders of tomorrow, hence it is expedient to protect them from both internal and external attacks. He commended the Commandant-General for the initiative, he described him as a visionary leader and a lover of children.

While delivering a lecture titled ‘’Effects of Safe School on Gender based Violence’, the guest speaker, Citizen Lola Way said that safe school has to do with securing the learning environment and the feminine gender is always at risk when gender-based violence occurs. She posited that a nation cannot experience peace if the rights of the female gender are wantonly abused. Citizen Lola Way also made it known that Gender Based Violence (GBV) could be physical, verbal or emotional. She, therefore, called on children to break the silence when they are being violated. “When you see something, say something and do something,” she said.

In her own speech, Osun state Officer-in-Charge of the Special Female Squad, Commander Ayodele Adepoju appreciated all the invited schools in attendance and promised to always discharge their duties with high level of professionalism.

Spokesperson, Osun NSCDC, ASCII Adeleke Kehinde noted that various activities highlighted the celebration. These include the teaching and demonstration of self-defence techniques by officers of the Special Female Squad, questions and answers session, among others.