CLEEN Foundation Empowers 30 Northern Nigeria Police Officers to Tackle Gender-Based Violence

As part of ongoing efforts to address Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Northern Nigeria, the CLEEN Foundation has empowered 30 Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) through a specialized training program across six states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The intensive two-day capacity-building workshop took place in Kaduna, gathering officers from Borno, Adamawa, Kano, Kaduna, Benue, and the FCT.

The initiative, led by the CLEEN Foundation, is part of ongoing efforts to enhance the Nigerian Police Force’s responsiveness to GBV, particularly in regions where such cases remain underreported and under-addressed.

Dr. Salaudeen Hashim, Programme Director at CLEEN Foundation, stated that the training was tailored to equip police officers with the necessary skills to handle GBV cases with empathy, professionalism, and a firm grasp of human rights principles.

“Tackling GBV requires more than enforcement. It demands community trust and officers who are sensitive to the complexities survivors face—especially in vulnerable regions like Northern Nigeria,” said Dr. Hashim.

He also revealed that the foundation had recently conducted specialized training for female officers in Borno State, with a focus on gender sensitivity and emergency response during conflict situations.

Representing the Deputy Inspector General of Police (Training), AIG Garba Ahmed lauded the initiative and emphasized its alignment with the police force’s institutional commitment to fighting GBV.

“This training ensures our officers are equipped not just to respond to GBV cases, but to ensure that justice and protection are provided to survivors,” AIG Ahmed noted.

He further called for sustained collaboration between law enforcement, the judiciary, civil society, and local communities to ensure effective prosecution of offenders and to strengthen preventive frameworks.

Dr. Kemakolam Isioma, the lead facilitator, noted that participants also explored collaborative GBV prevention strategies with key stakeholders, including NGOs, healthcare professionals, and traditional leaders.

She highlighted that the training supports a recent directive from the Inspector General of Police mandating the establishment of functional gender desks in all police divisions nationwide.

“The DPOs will return to their commands with actionable plans designed to foster safer communities for women and girls,” she concluded.

The training underscores CLEEN Foundation’s ongoing commitment to institutional reform, human rights, and community-oriented policing across Nigeria.