The Federal Government has strongly condemned the recent abuse of children in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, allegedly conducted under the pretense of a spiritual cleansing exercise.
In a press statement issued on Saturday by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Jonathan Eze, the Honourable Minister, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, described the act as “barbaric, criminal, and a gross violation of the Child Rights Act.”
The Minister emphasized that the Tinubu administration will not tolerate any form of abuse, particularly against children.
She stated, “Whether by strangers, community leaders, or parents, any individual or group found culpable of such heinous acts will be held accountable under the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act. This includes any parent or guardian who aided or condoned the abuse.”
Sulaiman-Ibrahim commended the Nigeria Police Force, especially the Rivers State Command, for their prompt response to the incident. She also praised the Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, Hajiya Binta Bello, for quickly deploying a team to rescue and safeguard the affected children.
The Minister acknowledged the role of citizens who recorded and exposed the abuse, stating, “Their courage embodies the spirit of our ‘See Something, Say Something, We Will Do Something’ campaign.”
However, she advised that such reports should be made directly to law enforcement agencies like the police or NAPTIP to ensure swift intervention while protecting the privacy and safety of victims.
According to the statement, the rescued children are now in protective custody and receiving comprehensive medical and psychosocial support, in accordance with the provisions of the Child Rights Act, which has been adopted across all 36 states of Nigeria.
Reaffirming the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the Minister declared, “We will not rest until Nigeria becomes a safe place for every child to grow, dream, and thrive. The soul of our nation depends on how we protect its future, our children.”