FIDA Lagos Condemns Gross Abuse of 10-Year Old Boy
The Lagos State of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) has issued a strongly worded condemnation of the recent case of child abuse involving a 10-year old boy who was reportedly locked in a dog’s kennel by his guardian in Lagos.
In a statement signed by its Chairperson, Mrs. Philomena Nneji, FIDA noted with dismay that in recent times, child abuse has been on the increase throughout the country, if news reports are anything to go by. Examples of such commonly seen abuses include the frequent sight of children are seen in the streets hawking, begging, and more often than not, being used as domestic help in many homes. The 14th day of August 2019 was a day of horror for Lagos residents as well as other Nigerians when a video of one Mrs. Onyinye Mbadike torturing a 10-year old boy went viral on the social media.
The video also showed Mrs. Mbadike locking the boy up in a dog’s kennel, forcing the boy to share a crammed and unhealthy space with her dogs Sadly, this is a scene that is repeated in many homes, with hapless children being unjustly treated, beaten or injured by their own relatives or guardians over trivial complaints pertaining to house chores, eating, hawking, etc.
In its statement, FIDA Nigeria (Lagos State Branch) vehemently condemned the barbaric and wicked act of Mrs. Onyinye Mbadike, attributing it to lack of human decency and conscience. The interest of the child, FIDA maintained, must always be paramount under the law and therefore should be respected by all.
The body expressed regret that in our society today, children are routinely subjected to torture, gruesome and inhuman treatment in the name of discipline. Such treatment, in most cases, ends up leaving indelible marks on children in utter disregard to the provisions of the law. These are heinous crimes against innocent children and are totally unacceptable. FIDA stated without equivocation its abhorrence of such inhuman treatment of children in whatever form of guise it may appear, and recommended that concrete steps be taken to curb this menace in our society. The body also restated its zero tolerance for any form of abuse against women and children.
As an organization committed to the promotion, protection, and preservation of the rights and well-being of indigent women and children, particularly in Lagos State, FIDA demanded justice for the traumatized boy, and also appealed to the State’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice to use his good offices to expedite action on the investigation and prosecution of the perpetrator of this heinous crime to act as a deterrent to others. FIDA, Lagos State Branch also called on the State Government to enhance the protection of the lives of children as enshrined in section 2(1) of the Child Rights Law 2007 of Lagos State, which clearly provides that: “A child shall be given protection and care as necessary for the well-being of the Child, taking into consideration the rights and duties of the Child’s parents, legal guardian, individuals, institutions, agencies, organizations or bodies legally responsible for the child. Also, Section 10 provides for: “Right to dignity of the Child.”
In light of the above, FIDA therefore expressed the conviction that the State Government bore a solemn responsibility to curb the menac of abuse of women and children, saying it stood ready to assist in the prosecution of perpetrators by holding watching brief whenever the matter was charged to court to ensure that justice was not only done but manifestly seen to be done in cases of this nature.
All barbaric acts and inhuman treatment against children in Lagos State, FIDA insisted, must stop NOW!
PHILOMENA NNEJI,
Chairperson,
FIDA Lagos Branch.
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