Need to end the monster called child abuse

This heinous crime, though a global challenge, is even more huge a problem here in Nigeria where weak government institutions and security agencies hardly punish culprits.Though the Child Rights Act signed into law in 2013 criminalizes all forms of child abuse and exploitation of children including rape and child defilement, the law hardly bites culprits […]

This heinous crime, though a global challenge, is even more huge a problem here in Nigeria where weak government institutions and security agencies hardly punish culprits.
Though the Child Rights Act signed into law in 2013 criminalizes all forms of child abuse and exploitation of children including rape and child defilement, the law hardly bites culprits as crime against children go on unabated.
The provisions of the Act are operational in 22 States and the Federal Capital Territory. Efforts are being made to ensure that the remaining states in Nigeria domesticate the provisions of the Act.
Though stakeholders including the Ministry of Interior, National Human Rights Commission, Ministry of Justice, state governments, civil society groups and the Nigeria Police are collaborating to ensure vigorous investigation of  cases of child abuse in order to identify and punish offenders, the success rate is a far cry from the problem on ground.
Experts say child abuse leaves permanent scars that may prevent children from becoming healthy, productive adults.
They also say that though child abuse occurs in the country, it has received little attention, and there are no credible statistics of its occurrence as a lot of the cases are not reported.
Twin and I Child Care Foundation, a non for profit organization, which recently constituted its Board of Directors in Abuja has also joined the fight against child abuse and promises to fight this menace to a standstill.
Ambassador Mahmud S. Umaru , the Chairman, Board of Directors, Twin and I Child Care Foundation told our correspondent that private citizens must arise to help solve the child abuse question In Nigeria.
“Child Abuse is an abomination. We won’t’ leave this monstrous issue of child abuse to the government alone. What do we do as individuals and civil society?” he asked.
Umaru said : “We will do conferences, symposiums, and workshops to bring it home that child abuse is not acceptable. A child does not only belong to the parents, a child belongs to the world”.
He warned ritualists who use children for rituals to secure political positions and  for wealth to desist or the Twin and I Child Care foundation will follow them to their shrines and expose them.
 “If you neglect child abuse, you neglect the institution of human race. People neglect the law but child abuse cannot be neglected” he noted adding that the Foundation needs the support of Nigerians and support of God.
Hajiya Aisha M.U. Tokura, the Founder/CEO Twin and I Child Care Foundation said Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) has become an epidemic requiring very effective action to combat it.
She noted that children are the future of the human race and must not to be neglected. “We need all the support to contribute meaningfully to the praise worthy efforts of Child1 and NSPCC all of them in the United Kingdom  fighting this epidemic online and physically in the UK.
“We are hoping that Twin and I Child Care Foundation will follow that great step in eradicating child sexual abuse in Nigeria to enhance UNICEF efforts in the direction. We are also partnering Child One in the United Kingdom to fight this monster in Nigeria” she  said.
Mrs Hope Okoye, Executive Director of Integrated Anti-Human Trafficking and Community Development Initiative (INTACOM- Africa) identified communication and massive awareness as a major tool in eliminating child and sexual abuse.
She argues that parents are primarily the custodians of the children. They should help prevent the child from sexual abuse.
According to her, due to recent awareness many Nigerians are now coming out of their shells to talk about the problem unlike years back.
The situation has shown that the long silence about child sexual abuse has been broken and more people are becoming aware of its ills. Law enforcement officers, relevant institutions, NGOs and individuals must wake up and confront this monstrous challenge.