WOMEN took to the streets of Nigeria’s north-western state of Borno on Sunday in protest against a sharp rise in the incidences of rape and gender-based violence.

According to officials, the situation has worsened since the emergency lockdown measures in response to the global Covid-19 pandemic.

In a briefing last week, the country’s Inspector General of Police Mohammed Adamun reported that there had been 717 rapes recorded between January and May.