Kaduna SAP Committee Raises Alarm Over Rising Insecurity as 16 Days of Activism Begins

By Adi John

The Kaduna State Multi-Stakeholder State Action Plan (SAP) Implementation and Monitoring Committee (SMIMC) has joined the global commemoration of the 2025 International 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, expressing concern over escalating insecurity across Kaduna State and the country.

Committee’s Chairperson, Saadatu Hamma, in a statement on Tuesday, said the Committee is working in partnership with the CLEEN Foundation and the Royal Norwegian Embassy.

She highlighted the growing incidents of kidnapping, terrorism, and banditry, noting that these threats continue to endanger residents and expose women, girls, and vulnerable groups to heightened protection risks.

The SMIMC also referenced the recent classification of Nigeria as a “country of concern” by the United States, describing it as further evidence of the urgent need for strengthened preventive and coordinated responses to insecurity, human rights violations, and gender-based violence.

The Committee stressed that worsening insecurity has deepened the vulnerability of women and girls, exposing them to sexual and gender-based violence, displacement, disrupted education and economic activities, trauma, and exclusion from peacebuilding processes.

It reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the Kaduna State Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (KADSAP), with actions focused on strengthening community early warning systems, supporting coordinated services for survivors of gender-based violence, and enhancing women’s participation in peace and security decision-making.

The SMIMC also called on government authorities to intensify security operations, urged security agencies to adopt gender-sensitive approaches, and appealed to traditional leaders to protect women and girls and speak out against violence.

Civil society, the media, women’s groups, HeforShe ambassadors and youth networks were encouraged to amplify peace messaging and support community-level resilience efforts.

The Committee believed that sustainable peace and development in Kaduna State is not achievable without the inclusion, protection, and leadership of women and girls.