Worried about the rising incidence of violence against girls and women across the globe, the Cross River government has warned perpetrators in the state to desist forthwith from the despicable act.

Sending the “Your game is up!” message to offenders when he played host to a team from the United Nations (UN) Spotlight Initiative yesterday at the Government House, Calabar, Deputy Governor Ivara Esu urged reorientation.

He said: “I want to use this medium to tell men who abuse their wives, daughters and sisters that their game is up. It’s not going to be business as usual.

“Those found in the habit of abusing the girl-child and molesting women in Cross River State should have a change of mind or “your game is up!”

Esu assured the delegation of the state’s cooperation in bringing to an end all forms of harmful practices against the girl-child and women.

He maintained: “We are ready as a state to partner with the UN Spotlight Initiative on advocacy that will bring to an end early child marriages, FGM and other harmful practices against the girl-child.”

The Commissioner for International Development Corporation (IDC) Dr. Inyang Asibong, explained that as part of its effort to every trace of violence against women, the state, had last July, commenced the programme after the official launch at the national level in Abuja.

Earlier, the UN Spotlight Director, Kenneth Ehouzou, said the project was an EU-UN initiative that has been unveiled in 22 countries, including Nigeria, since 2017.

The delegation was in the state to consolidate the policy thrust of the Governor Ben Ayade administration on the girl-child and women development through the Ministries of International Development/Global Donor Cooperation (MIDC) and Women Affairs.

The meeting also had in attendance the UNICEF Representative, Dr. Ibrahim Conteh; prominent gender development activist, Ambassador Nkoyo Toyo, among others.