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Poverty, neglect, leading causes of child abuse in Nigeria – Cleric
Against the backdrop of rising cases of child abuse in Nigeria, a cleric, Rev. Fr. Benedict Ugwuanyi has identified poverty, lack of proper parental care and marital problems as leading causes of child abuse.
In his book entitled: “Psychological Interpretation of Child Abuse,” Mr Ugwuanyi identified the different forms of child abuse to include psychological, sexual, neglect, emotional and physical abuse.
The catholic priest maintained that child abuse was a social nuisance that should be confronted by parents, teachers, competent authorities and the government.
He stressed the need for government to prioritise issues on child abuse, adding that until the causes of child abuse were addressed, efforts to prevent them, would be futile.
‘’There is need to organise programs for parents in order to teach and draw their attention to the need for positive parenting and development of parenting skills.
“There is also an urgent need to curb child abuse at the official level, because child abuse is a social problem in Nigeria and as such, demands a legal intervention,” the clergy said.
He said that emotional and psychological abuses were more dangerous, noting that, not only because they were the least visible, but because they had long-term consequences in children.
‘’When one looks closely at the problem of low self-esteem, you find out that part of the problem is that, the abused children feel, they are not loved by their parents.
‘’Take for instance, sexually abused children, they frequently have extreme low self-esteem.
” They feel worthless, valued only as sexual objects and this affects them as they grow up because they feel unworthy and undeserving of positive attention and affection,” he said.
The cleric decried the seeming lack of concern by government, saying that special centres should be provided to attend to such persons because they usually required the services of psychologists.
‘’Permit me to inform you that the role of a psychologist is not valued in our country, Nigeria.
“People prefer to go to their religious leaders for most of their problems, forgetting that we have experts that treat such problems.
‘’Again, the government is not paying much attention to this very problem.
“No wonder on March 3, 2021 in Geneva, UN experts urged Nigeria to prioritise specialised rehabilitation measures for the hundreds of abducted children.
‘’ Left deeply traumatised after their release and to strengthen protection measures for those at risk.
” We need well-furnished rehabilitation centres in all states of the federation,” he said.
He further called on government and policy makers to ensure prompt implementation of laws to protect children.
The Clergy noted that there was a need to strengthen special courts that would dispense quick justice to those that usually subject children to such acts.
‘’It is important to remind the government that the law serves to protect the best interest of the child.
“They should use all the necessary means, especially the legal intervention in calling the abusers to order.
‘’Government should come up with strong legislation against all forms of child abuse and neglect in Nigeria,” Mr Ugwuanyi noted.
He however, said that, it was not enough to pass laws, but to ensure that such laws were executed and enforced.
NAN
The Kaduna State Water Services Regulatory Commission (KADWREC) says it is partnering media practitioners towards revamping water services in the state.
Mr Dogara Bashir, the Executive Chairman of KADWREC, disclosed this on Monday at a one-day workshop organised for media practitioners on regulation of ‘Water, Sanitation and Hygiene’ (WASH) activities held in Kaduna.
Bashir said the commission was aware of the importance of the role media practitioners played in the society.
He stated that the workshop was to provide an avenue to liaise with them as important stakeholders on water supply and sanitation services in the state.
Bashir said: “As media practitioners, we believe you are a gateway to the citizens so, the workshop would acquaint you with some of the regulations already in place so that you can in turn transmit it to the public
“The state of water services in Kaduna State is in dire need of attention and the State Water Corporation and KADWREC were established towards addressing the seeming challenges.
“The commission is mandated to ensure better service delivery and regulation of water and sanitation services in the State.
“The idea is that once the regulations are developed, we send them to the State Ministry of Justice to gazette and then we get the state government to endorse and give the go ahead to commence the implementation of the regulations
“We intend to implement them fully come January, 2025 God willing, as we have embarked on advocacy activities having gone to zones 1 and 2 where we talked to traditional rulers, security agencies and the Judiciary.”
He disclosed that a special Court has already been attached to the commission by the Chief Judge of the State for service providers who may likely violate regulations.
The chairman further said that amongst the commission’s objectives include ensuring security, reliability and quality of service in the production and delivery of water to the consumers as well making regulations to control the sinking of boreholes.
Others included; maximising access to water services by promoting and facilitating consumer connections to distribution systems in urban and rural areas.
According to Bashir, they also include ensuring that regulatory decision-making has regards to all the relevant health, safety, environmental and social legislation applying to the water sector.
Bashir further said that the commission collaborate with the relevant state and federal agencies on water policies.
The police in Lagos have dragged two women, Mmesuma Ofunna, and Blessing Adimekwe, before an Ojo Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, over alleged obtaining money by false pretence.
Ofunna, 22, and Adimekwe, 25, were arraigned before the Magistrate, Mr L K J Layeni, on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence, stealing and conduct likely to breach peace.
They each, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The prosecutor, ASP Simon Uche, told the court that the defendants conspired with others now at large, to commit the offence on Oct. 26 at the Okokomaiko area of Ojo.
He alleged that they had obtained the sum of N70, 000 from one Faith Ahamefule, with a promise not to post her nude photo on social media.
The prosecutor alleged that the defendants later posted the nude photo of the nominal complainant on social media, knowing that their promise was false.
He alleged that they stole the N70, 0000, thereby conducting themselves in a manner likely to breach public peace.
The offence contravenes the provisions of sections 168(d), 287, 314, and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
The court granted the defendants bails in the sum of N500, 000 each, with two sureties each in like sum.
He adjourned the case until Jan. 8, 2025 for mention.
A Jos Magistrates’ Court on Monday, sentenced a 37-year-old driver, Ahmad Umar to six months in imprisonment for attempting to steal a car.
The Magistrate, Shawomi Bokkos, summarily tried and sentenced the convict after he pleaded guilty to the charge.
Bokkos in his judgment, ordered the convict to pay an option of N30, 000 fine or spend six months in prison.
Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp Ibrahim Gokwat, told the court that the case was reported on Oct. 10, at the Area Command Police station through a distress call by one Sydney Peacemorie the complainant.
Gokwat said the complainant parked his Toyota RAV4 in front of Access Bank and went inside to carry out some transactions, only to return to find the convict inside his car.
“The convict unlawfully opened the car and was in the driver’s seat when the complainant raised alarm and he was apprehended, but his accomplice escaped.
“The convict was severely beaten by a mob but was rescued by the police,” said Gokwat.
“The prosecutor said that the offence contravened the Plateau Penal Code Law.
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