18 Rape Cases In Three Months: GADA Leads Justice Push In Cross River

CALABAR, CROSS RIVER – A surge in rape and gender-based violence (GBV) cases in Cross River State has triggered a coordinated response led by Gender and Development Action (GADA), positioning the organisation at the forefront of efforts to reform justice delivery, strengthen survivor support, and restore public confidence in reporting abuse.

At a high-level Technical Working Group meeting convened by the Cross River State Ministry of Women Affairs, stakeholders confronted alarming data, including 18 rape cases recorded within three months by the state police gender unit, alongside dozens of other incidents ranging from physical abuse to denial of resources.

The meeting, chaired by the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Edema Irom, resolved to escalate concerns directly to the Commissioner of Police, amid widespread complaints of extortion, delayed investigations, and out-of-court settlement especially in rape and defilement cases.

GADA Steps Forward as Solution Driver

While the meeting exposed deep institutional gaps, GADA emerged as a key solution driver, pushing beyond rhetoric to actionable reforms.

Speaking after the session, Gender Desk/Programme Officer, Roseline Unimuke, stressed that consistent follow-up and accountability are critical to securing justice.

“Without deliberate follow-up, many of these cases will never make it to court. Survivors report, but the system slows them down or shuts them out,” she said.

GADA has now committed to: Tracking every reported case to ensure it reaches court, strengthening referrals to police, justice institutions, partner organisations, following up on police conduct, particularly allegations of financial exploitation and expanding awareness campaigns to increase reporting and prevention.

Data Reveals Crisis and Opportunity

Between October 2025 and March 2026, multiple agencies reported GBV cases such as Police Gender Unit: 18 rape cases, Citizens’ Rights Department: 53 cases, GADA: 5 cases (including rape and intimate partner violence) and Other partners: additional cases pending submission.

Beyond numbers, a disturbing trend emerged

Many rape cases are allegedly committed by close relatives, deepening the urgency for systemic intervention.Yet, increased reporting also reflects progress. “Awareness is rising.

More survivors are speaking out. But the system must be ready to respond effectively,” Unimuke noted.

Systemic Barriers Undermining Justice

Despite growing awareness, survivors face steep obstacle including prolonged court processes, with cases lingering for years, financial burdens, including transport and legal costs, police extortion, discouraging families from pursuing justice.

Stakeholders warned that unless these issues are addressed, reporting gains could collapse under systemic pressure.

Reforms in Motion

From Advocacy to Act Reformation to address these challenges, the Ministry and partners including GADA outlined concrete next steps:

1. High-Level Police Engagement

An advocacy visit to the Commissioner of Police will demand zero tolerance for out-of-court settlements in rape cases, accountability for officers accused of extortion, Improves case handling across divisions.

2. Unified GBV Data System

A harmonised reporting template is being developed in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs to replace a collapsed national dashboard previously supported by the Spotlight Initiative.

This will standardize reporting across organisations, provide real-time, statewide data, strengthens policy and funding opportunities.

3. Improved Case Management and Referrals

GADA and partners are reinforcing coordination to ensure survivors receive medical, legal, and psychosocial support, cases are not abandoned mid-process, outcomes are tracked and documented and community-level impact as well as safe spaces and awareness.

Beyond institutional advocacy, GADA is driving grassroots change through, school-based safe spaces in Calabar, offering confidential reporting channels, training of teachers and counselors to support survivors, community sensitization campaigns on rights and reporting mechanisms.

These efforts are already yielding results, with increased reporting and growing public awareness across local government areas.

A Defining Moment for GBV Response

The convergence of rising case numbers, public awareness, and institutional pressure presents what stakeholders at the meeting describe as a turning point in Cross River’s GBV response.

For GADA, the focus is clear: turn data into justice, and advocacy into measurable outcomes. “Justice must not only be promised, it must be seen, felt, and delivered,” Unimuke said.

As advocacy shifts to implementation, all eyes are now on law enforcement and the justice system to match commitments with action.