Activist backs Taraba first lady on girl-child protection

Kennedy Iyere, rights activist and founder of the Youths Off The Street Initiative (YOTSI), has thrown his weight behind Agyin Agbu Kefas, the wife of Taraba State governor, and Mary Sinjen, the state commissioner for Women Affairs and Child Development, as well as Filister Musa, the commissioner for Social Justice, for their intervention in the brutal attack on Iwasen Terhemba, a 17-year-old girl in the state.

The teenage girl was reportedly assaulted with a razor blade after being harassed by a married man, in what Iyere described as “a crime of violence, abuse of power, and moral failure,” dismissing any suggestion that jealousy or trivial disputes were involved.

“No society that claims decency should allow adults to brutalise a child and walk freely,” Iyere said. “The girl-child is not a scapegoat for broken marriages, unchecked lust, or failed values. She deserves protection, not punishment.”

He praised the Taraba Kefas and the two commissioners for their roles in the swift arrest and prosecution of the alleged perpetrator, as well as their efforts toward the rehabilitation of the victim and her guardians.

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According to him, the response demonstrated a clear commitment to justice and child protection.

“The full weight of the law must be applied without compromise or sentiment,” Iyere stated.

Iyere appreciated the Taraba State first lady for providing critical relief interventions for the victim, including urgent medical care and her relocation to Jalingo, the state capital, where she is expected to be safer and have improved access to opportunities. He further commended the provision of psychosocial support and long-term protection arrangements for the victim.

He particularly applauded the Taraba State Government for awarding a scholarship to the victim, describing the gesture as a powerful statement against violence and neglect.

“This case must set a precedent. We will not normalise violence. We will not excuse abuse. And we will not be silent while our girls bleed,” he added.

Iyere also acknowledged Sarah Bulus for leveraging her social media platforms to raise awareness about the attack on Iwasen Terhemba and for mobilising support funds for the victim. He called on Governor Agbu Kefas to sustain and expand support for the girl, ensuring that all resources required for her full rehabilitation and reintegration are provided.

Expressing solidarity with the victim and her family, Iyere stressed that “how we protect our children is the true test of governance. Silence is complicity. Any system that fails to defend minors has failed its future.”

Reports indicate that the first lady, in collaboration with the commissioners, mobilised social services to ensure the victim receive immediate care and counselling, reflecting a growing commitment to child protection and social justice in state.