The Federal Government has strongly condemned the abuse of children in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, following a viral video showing minors being flogged under the guise of a spiritual cleansing exercise. The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, described the act as “barbaric, criminal, and a moment of “gross violation of the Child Rights Act.”
The Minister commended the Nigeria Police Force, particularly the Rivers State Command, for their swift intervention, and praised the Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for deploying her team to rescue and safeguard the affected children.
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The Minister assured that the Federal Government would not tolerate any form of abuse, especially those targeted at children, and vowed to hold accountable individuals or groups found culpable of such heinous acts. The rescued children are now under protective custody and are receiving medical and psychosocial support.
The Minister reaffirmed the commitment of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to protecting children’s rights and ensuring a safe environment for them to grow and thrive. She emphasized that the government will not rest until Nigeria becomes a safe place for every child.
