The Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL) has called on the Kano State House of Assembly to expedite action on the passage of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) bill to strengthen protections for children and vulnerable groups in the state.
The State Coordinator of NACTAL, Muhammad Mashi, made the appeal during the official launch of the 2025 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, organised by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and partners in Kano.
Mashi expressed concern over the rising cases of violations in Kano, noting that NAPTIP alone has received more than 2,000 cases of abuse and violence.
He said the VAPP law has become urgently necessary to curb the increasing violations and protect residents especially women, children, and vulnerable persons.
Mashi also commended the Assembly for passing the Child Rights Law but appealed for the swift inauguration of the Child Rights Implementation Committee to ensure effective enforcement.
Also speaking, the Co-Chairman of the Side by Side Movement for Gender Justice, Rev. Samuel Adeyemo, said passing the VAPP law would compel perpetrators to either flee the state or abandon their violent acts.
He noted that the group is deploying community vanguards across all 44 LGAs to break the culture of silence and ensure perpetrators have no hiding place.
In his remarks, the Kano Zonal Commander of NAPTIP, Barr. Abdullahi Babale, applauded the Assembly for ongoing efforts to harmonise the Penal Code and the VAPP Act.
He described the process as “a major step towards strengthening Kano’s legal and institutional framework against violence.”
Responding on behalf of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Jibrin Falgore, the Special Adviser on Legislative Matters, Abdullahi Alpha, assured stakeholders of the Assembly’s commitment to thoroughly examine the issues raised and act accordingly.