Speaking in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, on Wednesday, BBYDI's Executive Director, Nurah Jimoh-Sanni, described the incident as a grim reminder of the persistent gender-based violence (GBV) in society.

The Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative (BBYDI) has strongly condemned the killing of Lawal Hafsoh Yetunde, a final-year student of Kwara State College of Education, allegedly by an Islamic cleric.

Speaking in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, on Wednesday, BBYDI's Executive Director, Nurah Jimoh-Sanni, described the incident as a grim reminder of the persistent gender-based violence (GBV) in society.

She noted that GBV remains a deep-rooted issue threatening the dignity, safety, and well-being of individuals, particularly women and girls.

"Gender-based violence has persisted for too long under different guises, including domestic abuse, sexual violence, harmful traditional practices, and structural discrimination," Nurah stated.

She stressed that no society can truly prosper when half of its population lives in fear and suffers in silence. BBYDI urged authorities to ensure justice for the slain student and called for stronger measures to combat GBV in Nigeria.

She reaffirmed BBYDI’s commitment to combating GBV, ensuring that no survivor suffers in silence, and encouraging communities to take a stand against all forms of violence.

Nurah stated that as part of their commitment to safeguarding the rights of women and girls, BBYDI has been actively advocating for the adoption of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act in Kwara, Osun, and Niger States.

"Our resolve today is further strengthened by the fact that both the law and religion stand firmly against gender-based violence. Our faiths—Islam, Christianity, and traditional practices—uphold the sanctity of human dignity and condemn oppression and injustice," Nurah said.

She stressed that there is no justification, culturally, religiously, or otherwise, for any act that diminishes the worth of another human being.

She also added that laws like the VAPP Act criminalise various forms of GBV.

Speaking at the event, Barrister Funke Balogun, Chairperson of the FIDA Kwara Branch and Head of the GBV Unit at the Ministry of Justice, stated that not all matters should be handled by traditional leaders, especially in the case of Hafsoh, who was murdered by the so-called Islamic cleric.

"The idea that one can handle matters 'their own way' is not acceptable and goes against the intent of the law. Even those who insist on handling issues privately need to understand this," she said.

She noted that in the past, when an incident occurred, parents often said, "Don’t mention my name or our family’s name."

This culture of silence, she argued, is harmful and must change.

"For example, if an incident happens, people prefer to keep silent rather than report it. This attitude suppresses justice. Survival of the fittest has become the norm, and we see this every day. People must understand that these issues affect everyone," she said.

Barrister Funke stressed that the community must not resist justice. Any criminal case, especially gender-based violence, is a case against the state, and no one has the authority to dismiss it privately.

"We call on elders and community leaders to change this mindset. In the past, our fathers warned us: 'If you commit a crime and they ask, ‘Who is your father?’ Say you don’t have one.' This instilled a sense of responsibility. Nowadays, community leaders shield offenders. This must stop," she said.

She also addressed concerns about media reporting, highlighting that the media often stigmatises victims and ridicules communities.

"If someone commits a crime, does that mean the entire community is guilty? Journalists must be careful in their reports to avoid reinforcing stigma. Also, must they always reveal the victim’s name? Even suspects should have their identities protected, as the law requires. If a suspect is found innocent, how do they recover their reputation?" she said.

She further noted that fear of testifying as a witness remains a major challenge in seeking justice.

"We have strong cases but struggle to find witnesses. The court can only act on the evidence presented, and without witnesses, justice cannot be served. Judges are limited to what is on record, which can lead to compromised outcomes," she said.

However, she highlighted a lack of coordination among NGOs, emphasizing that while many organisations handle GBV cases, better collaboration is necessary to improve outcomes.

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