COVID-19 worsened violence against women, girls – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday said the COVID-19 pandemic led to an increase in sexual and gender-based violence in the country due to the lockdown measures introduced to check the disease.

He said this in a goodwill message to commemorate the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, which holds on November 25 every year.

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He said sexual and gender-based violence in all its forms had been recurrent especially considering the alarming statistics of violence against vulnerable persons recorded in Nigeria, particularly women and girls.

Buhari, who said he was aware of the unfortunate situation from records and reports of incidences in the country, highlighted actions taken by the government to address violence the trend.

He expressed the commitment of his administration to continue to tackle sexual and gender based violence in the country.