Chronicles Of Child Brutality In Kaduna: Pathetic Story Of Three
Commissioner Talks Tough
NIGERIA
Eunice
(Eunice)
Rukayat
Authorities react
When contacted, Commissioner, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Hafsat Mohammed-Baba, who describe the development as unfortunate said, court must be ready to accommodate more child abusers in Kaduna State especially now that the law protecting children against any form of violence has just been signed by the State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
“Honestly I can’t comprehend what is happening and how children are being treated in Kaduna especially now that we have child welfare and protection law. I believe we have to start engaging more people, talking to them and create awareness and sensitization. At the same time, we have to get justice for these children.
“People must be taken to court and this is where the security, judiciary, the media and civil society organizations partnership is important to see to it that people that are perpetrating this act are punished according to child protection law and penal code of Kaduna State.
“When we have cases like this, the first thing we do in our ministry is to seize the child and take him or her to the hospital for treatment and medical examination while the investigation continues.
“Parents and guardian must understand that, inflicting serious pains on children is not the way to discipline a child whatever the offence.
“Child caregivers must also understand that they must perform their responsibility which will prevent these children from stealing what to eat. They should not punish a child to the extent of been hospitalised because that is not discipline at all but wickedness. I believe we also need to engage religious and traditional leaders to come together so we can all talk with one voice to stop this violence against children”, she added.
Also reacting, Chairman, Kajuru Local Government area of the state where one of the parents of the maltreated children hails from, Mrs Felicia Kyomson expressed dismay, saying all hands must be on deck to address the menace.
The LG Boss who visited Alice on her sick bed at General Hospital Sabon Tasha, Kaduna where the girl is currently receiving treatment said, “you can see how I felt while I was with the girl on hospital bed. As a mother, I am not happy at all. For a woman that has carried pregnancy for nine month, if truly she has giving birth to beat up a girl of that age to stupor is scary. Her spirit should pinch her if truly she has conscience as a mother.
“I just spoke to the father of the girl that for how long has he know the woman and he said he did not know the family. He said he gave his daughter to his brother who did not tell him he gave his daughter to another person.
“This is the man that did not bother to come and see his daughter for long time. I told him there is no point for bringing up children you cannot take care of. I also told him that, even if you are giving your child to your blood, you are suppose to be checking on the child at least once in three months because the only thing that is constant in life is change.
“So, I’m encouraging people to take care of their children no matter how poor they are”, she restated.
Executive Director, Bako Youth Foundation and member of Child Protection Network in Kaduna State, Andy Bako said, non-governmental organizations working around children condemn in entirety any violence against children under whatever guise.
“We are against this kind of cruel attitude against children. The good thing is that, the law to punish offenders is now in place in Kaduna state and that will make our work a lot easier. We will not let this case go just like that.
“We will definitely allow the law to take its course. Thank God the man who did this to her is already in Police station. We are going to work to ensure this case get to court and see how we can stop violence against children in Kaduna.
“Children are suppose to be care for. Children are supposed to grow without any form of fear, intimidation or hindrance or anything that could work against educational development of a child will be resisted by all legal means.
Traditional leader also reacts
Distric Head, Kufana, Adara Chiefdom, Kajuru LGA, Tutus Dauda, reiterated the need for parents and guardian to see children as sacred gift from God and treat them as Gods gifts in their care.
According to him, “when it was brought to our notice, we have to suspend every other thing we were doing to come to the hospital to see the girl and we are not happy with what we saw. That was somebody’s daughter. Anybody that sees the girl will possibly shed tears because she was seriously dealt with. It is too bad.
“Now, at the end of every month, we use to convey meeting of villages heads where we emphasize this kind of behaviour.
“So, giving our children to someone who just promises us that he will take care of them is not the best at all. We have been telling them not to do all that. I have cases like this since I came to the office and I can tell you it is not a good thing.
“If I am in the village, no matter the number of children I have, I should be able to take care of them because we will have farm to farm and that is what we live upon in the village.
“So, it cannot really be because he has more children except he too is not a serious fellow. And that is why we don’t encourage those who don’t have something productive doing to marry let alone of having plenty children.
The way forward is for the government to take drastic measure by making someone example of bad parenting. Once that is done, many others will learn to protect and not to brutalize children whether their own or others”.
SOLA OJO SENT IN THIS REPORT
Authorities react
When contacted, Commissioner, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Hafsat Mohammed-Baba, who describe the development as unfortunate said, court must be ready to accommodate more child abusers in Kaduna State especially now that the law protecting children against any form of violence has just been signed by the State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
“Honestly I can’t comprehend what is happening and how children are being treated in Kaduna especially now that we have child welfare and protection law. I believe we have to start engaging more people, talking to them and create awareness and sensitization. At the same time, we have to get justice for these children.
“People must be taken to court and this is where the security, judiciary, the media and civil society organizations partnership is important to see to it that people that are perpetrating this act are punished according to child protection law and penal code of Kaduna State.
“When we have cases like this, the first thing we do in our ministry is to seize the child and take him or her to the hospital for treatment and medical examination while the investigation continues.
“Parents and guardian must understand that, inflicting serious pains on children is not the way to discipline a child whatever the offence.
“Child caregivers must also understand that they must perform their responsibility which will prevent these children from stealing what to eat. They should not punish a child to the extent of been hospitalised because that is not discipline at all but wickedness. I believe we also need to engage religious and traditional leaders to come together so we can all talk with one voice to stop this violence against children”, she added.
Also reacting, Chairman, Kajuru Local Government area of the state where one of the parents of the maltreated children hails from, Mrs Felicia Kyomson expressed dismay, saying all hands must be on deck to address the menace.
The LG Boss who visited Alice on her sick bed at General Hospital Sabon Tasha, Kaduna where the girl is currently receiving treatment said, “you can see how I felt while I was with the girl on hospital bed. As a mother, I am not happy at all. For a woman that has carried pregnancy for nine month, if truly she has giving birth to beat up a girl of that age to stupor is scary. Her spirit should pinch her if truly she has conscience as a mother.
“I just spoke to the father of the girl that for how long has he know the woman and he said he did not know the family. He said he gave his daughter to his brother who did not tell him he gave his daughter to another person.
“This is the man that did not bother to come and see his daughter for long time. I told him there is no point for bringing up children you cannot take care of. I also told him that, even if you are giving your child to your blood, you are suppose to be checking on the child at least once in three months because the only thing that is constant in life is change.
“So, I’m encouraging people to take care of their children no matter how poor they are”, she restated.
Executive Director, Bako Youth Foundation and member of Child Protection Network in Kaduna State, Andy Bako said, non-governmental organizations working around children condemn in entirety any violence against children under whatever guise.
“We are against this kind of cruel attitude against children. The good thing is that, the law to punish offenders is now in place in Kaduna state and that will make our work a lot easier. We will not let this case go just like that.
“We will definitely allow the law to take its course. Thank God the man who did this to her is already in Police station. We are going to work to ensure this case get to court and see how we can stop violence against children in Kaduna.
“Children are suppose to be care for. Children are supposed to grow without any form of fear, intimidation or hindrance or anything that could work against educational development of a child will be resisted by all legal means.
Traditional leader also reacts
Distric Head, Kufana, Adara Chiefdom, Kajuru LGA, Tutus Dauda, reiterated the need for parents and guardian to see children as sacred gift from God and treat them as Gods gifts in their care.
According to him, “when it was brought to our notice, we have to suspend every other thing we were doing to come to the hospital to see the girl and we are not happy with what we saw. That was somebody’s daughter. Anybody that sees the girl will possibly shed tears because she was seriously dealt with. It is too bad.
“Now, at the end of every month, we use to convey meeting of villages heads where we emphasize this kind of behaviour.
“So, giving our children to someone who just promises us that he will take care of them is not the best at all. We have been telling them not to do all that. I have cases like this since I came to the office and I can tell you it is not a good thing.
“If I am in the village, no matter the number of children I have, I should be able to take care of them because we will have farm to farm and that is what we live upon in the village.
“So, it cannot really be because he has more children except he too is not a serious fellow. And that is why we don’t encourage those who don’t have something productive doing to marry let alone of having plenty children.
The way forward is for the government to take drastic measure by making someone example of bad parenting. Once that is done, many others will learn to protect and not to brutalize children whether their own or others”.
SOLA OJO SENT IN THIS REPORT