Worried by the endemic cases of sexual and gender-based violence traced to unlawful marriages known in the local parlance as ‘aure leather’ the Gyel district of Jos South local government area of Plateau State has taken the lead in reducing the number of items required for the traditional marriage rite to enable young men to afford the cost and get married legally.

The gesture is also to give women the pride of place in their respective homes and ensure that disagreement over nonpayment of dowry does not degenerate into violence in the homes.

This is as a call is made for the curbing of indiscriminate mining which is said to contribute to the prevalence of alcoholism and sexual and gender-based violence in communities.

Speaking during a panel discussion organized by the Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection, WRAPA in commemoration of 2024 International Women’s Day for stakeholders from the Berom tribe in the State, the District Head of Gyel (a Berom enclave), Da Nga Dangyang through his Secretary, Rwas Jonathan pointed out ways that women inclusion are ensured in their community saying there is a bye law to ensure enforcement.

He said “The Gyel Traditional Council has developed a bye-law which gives women the opportunity to be in the traditional council, determine the type of punishments given to anyone who is involved in any form of violence, spells out ways to mitigate insecurity.

“The Council has reduced bride price to N30,000 because it was discovered the high rate of the bride prices were the cause of unlawful marriages and the reduction has swelled up the number of legitimate marriages in the District. The bye-law also says women who don’t work should be given a percentage of their husband’s salary.”

A Berom elder, Da Dauda Gyemang insisted that the rich culture of the Berom nation especially on family life is being eroded by indiscriminate mining activities which make very young people get quick money to indulge in alcoholism and early marriages.

His words, “One major activity going on on the Plateau now is illegal mining and very young people drop out of schools to engage in it. They get quick money without the capacity to utilize the money. They go into drinking and begin to cohabit in the name of marriage. This is very risky, some parents are even encouraging their children not to go to school but to go for this mining at the age of 10; 15 years, many of them go into drinking and marriage.

“So, as a man, he is always drunk and cannot even perform his duties as a man and when the girls don’t get the satisfaction they desire from their men, they get along with the available person that can meet their needs. When a man cannot perform and he sees his wife is not faithful, he vents the annoyance in the form of beating and other forms of violence.

“We have been advocating for organized mining with financial literacy so that the youths can be guided on how to make use of their money and even pay taxes to the government. When this is done, the rights of the men and the women would be protected as this organization is advocating.”

Earlier, the panellists, Dr Dachollom Jambol (Chairman of Berom Elders Forum), the Gwom Rim (Chief of Rim), HRH Gyang Dahoro, President of Berom Educational and Cultural Organisation, BECO, Da Gyang Dudu, President of Berom Youth Moulders Association, BYM, Barrister Solomon Mwantiri, and Chairman of Berom Districts Development Association, Da Silas Pwajok, moderated by Mr Steve Aluko denounced all forms of SGBV saying they are strange to the Berom culture.

The speakers commended the Gyel District for the initiative and reiterated that the Berom culture does not encourage domestic violence as there were laid down rules to checkmate such but blamed the negative impacts of civilization which alienate parental and community inputs in the choice of marriage partners and called for mentorship and discipline in society.

The State Coordinator of WRAPA, Mrs. Jummai Madaki noted that the event aimed at promoting women’s inclusion as a fundamental right and a smart approach that supports inclusive communities as a catalyst to development and has as its goal, the encouragement of men and boys to become key allies and actors in the fight against SGBV through community-based dialogue in a panel format.

In his remarks, Nanle Gujor, the Secretary of Plateau Initiative for Development and Advancement of the Natives, PIDAN, the umbrella body of all the indigenous Development Associations in the State, said the rest of the tribes and native Associations should emulate the Gyel District and reduce exorbitant bride prices. Rev. Christopher Damsher asked that religion and culture collaborate to find a balance in curbing SGBV.

Meanwhile, participants including people living with disabilities, the youths, women, and others condemned violence against women and girls, agreed to replicate the Gyel District bye-law in the whole of Berom land, asked that harmful traditional practices be abolished, and called for the upholding of traditional practices that promote community wellbeing.