JALINGO – A coalition of civil society organizations (CSOs), legal experts, and healthcare professionals has issued a formal ultimatum to the Taraba State government, demanding the immediate establishment of Sexual Assault Response Centres (SARCs) across all three senatorial districts to combat surging cases of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).
The demand was delivered at the conclusion of a three-day policy review workshop in Jalingo, where participants identified the lack of specialized infrastructure as the primary obstacle preventing survivors from accessing justice and medical intervention.
Stakeholders noted that the current absence of dedicated, integrated centers forces victims to navigate a fragmented and often traumatizing system.
Under the current arrangement, survivors are often compelled to travel long distances between police stations, hospitals, and legal offices, frequently leading to the loss of critical forensic evidence and the abandonment of cases.
The proposed SARCs are intended to function as “one-stop shops,” housing medical treatment, forensic services and legal aid.
The workshop, facilitated by the Life Spring Development Foundation (LSDF) in partnership with the State Ministry of Health.
Dr. Ojukwu Mark Ojukwu, representing the LSDF Country Director, called for the immediate rehabilitation of the dormant Sexual Assault Centre at the State Specialist Hospital in Jalingo as a stop-gap measure while the government initiates the rollout of district-wide facilities
He noted that the workshop serves as a platform to pressure the administration of Governor Agbu Kefas for structural reform.
Responding to the pressure, state officials hinted that a policy shift is imminent.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bordiya Buma, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to evidence-based health policies, promising standardized clinical practices to better protect vulnerable populations.
Similarly, the Executive Secretary of the Taraba State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Nuhu Tukura, signaled strong confidence that the state administration is prepared to prioritize the funding and creation of these centers.
The coalition has vowed to sustain the pressure, noting that the establishment of these centers is now a benchmark by which the government’s commitment to human rights and public safety will be measured.
