The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development has condemned alleged cases of child abuse reported in Abia and Anambra states, including Technology-Facilitated Gender Based Violence (TFGBV) involving the recording and circulation of abuse against children, warning Nigerians against normalising violence against children or further harming victims by circulating videos and images of abuse online.
The Ministry’s reaction followed reports of the alleged brutal abuse of a 12-year-old boy, Master Ugonna Uzoma, in Aba, Abia State, reportedly involving his father, as well as a separate case in Onitsha, Anambra State, where a video allegedly showed a mother abusing her daughters.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by the Head of Press and Public Relations Department, Ahmed Lawan Danbazau, the Ministry described the reported incidents as grave violations of children’s rights and dignity.
It stressed that the fact that alleged abuse takes place within the family does not make it acceptable, warning parents and caregivers against using discipline or parental authority as a justification for violence.
“The Ministry unequivocally condemns all acts of violence, torture, cruelty, humiliation and abuse against children. Parental authority must never be used to violate a child’s dignity, bodily integrity or fundamental rights,” the statement said.
Online sharing can deepen trauma
The Ministry expressed particular concern over the use of digital platforms to record and potentially circulate images of abused children.
According to the Ministry, recording or sharing such content can expose already vulnerable children to further humiliation, violation of privacy and psychological trauma.
“Abuse is no less serious because it is recorded or shared online. Recording, uploading or circulating such material compounds the harm, violates children’s privacy and dignity, and exposes them to further humiliation and trauma,” it said.
The Ministry therefore urged members of the public who encounter videos or images depicting abused children not to download, repost, forward or circulate them.
Instead, it advised citizens to preserve relevant information securely and report the material to law enforcement, child-protection or social-welfare authorities.
“Reporting suspected abuse is an act of protection; making abusive material viral is not,” the Ministry stressed.
Authorities intervene in reported cases
In the Abia case, the Ministry commended the Nigeria Police Force and the Abia State Ministry of Women Affairs for their intervention, including the arrest of the alleged perpetrator and the placement of the child under protective care.
It also commended the Nigeria Police Force, Anambra State Command, the Anambra State Ministry of Women Affairs, the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) and other stakeholders for their response to the reported abuse in Onitsha, including the placement of the affected children in safe care.
The Ministry said such interventions underscored the importance of coordinated action whenever children are exposed to violence or other forms of harm.
It noted that victims of abuse require more than immediate rescue, stressing the need for appropriate medical and psychosocial support, evidence preservation and access to justice.
Laws protect children from violence
The Ministry recalled that the Child Rights Act (CRA) 2003 and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015 (VAPP Act) provide legal frameworks for protecting children against abuse, exploitation, torture, inhuman and degrading treatment and other forms of violence.
It emphasised that children are rights-holders and that their protection is a shared responsibility involving families, communities, government institutions and other stakeholders.
The Ministry also linked its position to the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to protecting the dignity, safety and wellbeing of women and children and addressing gender-based violence, including forms of abuse facilitated through digital platforms.
Call for greater vigilance
The Ministry urged Nigerians to report suspected cases of child abuse, domestic violence, sexual violence and technology-facilitated gender-based violence promptly through appropriate channels.
These include the Nigeria Police Force, state ministries responsible for Women Affairs and Social Development, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), FIDA and other authorised child-protection and justice institutions.
It further called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, law-enforcement bodies, the judiciary, civil society organisations, development partners and technology platforms to strengthen prevention, reporting, referral and accountability.
Parents, caregivers, schools, religious and traditional institutions and media organisations were also urged to ensure that efforts to raise awareness about child abuse do not inadvertently expose victims to further harm.
The Ministry maintained that violence against children should never be excused because it occurs in the home, is presented as discipline or is amplified through social media.
It pledged to work with relevant institutions and communities to ensure appropriate prosecution and timely justice in cases where wrongdoing is established, describing such action as necessary to deter abuse and promote a safer environment for children both offline and online.
