The Federal Government has condemned the assault of children in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, after a viral video showed minors being flogged in the name of a spiritual cleansing exercise.
In a statement issued on Saturday by her media aide, Jonathan Eze, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, described the act as “barbaric, criminal, and a gross violation of the Child Rights Act.”
She warned that the Tinubu administration would not tolerate abuse of any form, stressing that individuals or groups found guilty—including parents or guardians—would face prosecution under the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act.
The minister commended the swift response of the Nigeria Police Force and the Rivers State Command, as well as the prompt intervention of the Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Hajiya Binta Bello, whose team rescued the affected children.
She also praised citizens who recorded and exposed the incident, noting that their action aligned with the ministry’s “See Something, Say Something, We Will Do Something” campaign. She, however, advised that future reports be directed to law enforcement agencies to aid quick intervention and safeguard victims’ privacy.
According to the statement, the rescued children are now in protective custody and are receiving medical care and psychosocial support in line with the Child Rights Act, which has been domesticated across all 36 states.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment, Sulaiman-Ibrahim said, “We will not rest until Nigeria becomes a safe place for every child to grow, dream, and thrive.
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The soul of our nation depends on how we protect its future—our children.”
