Child abuse remains a major problem in most Nigerian societies, in spite of concerted efforts by governments, organisations and well-meaning individuals to ensure a reliable future for these leaders of tomorrow.
Two children have suffered burns in controversial circumstances in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.
The Police say it’s the outcome of an allegation of child witchcraft while the children describe themselves as street kids who had nowhere to go but took shelter in an uncompleted building in the outskirts of Uyo.
Eight year old Namanso Edet-Bassey in a hospital bed with severe burns said that her parents were no longer together, so she sleeps in an uncompleted building. Another victim is Kufre Effiong, the nine year old boy also calls the street home. They were both burnt in the fire set on the uncompleted building.
They were rescued by a Sister from a Catholic Convent located in the outskirts of Uyo and the convent has made a formal report to the Police.
“I saw a group of children gathered in our gate, so I went in to check to see what happened because they were all primary school children. There I discovered there was a child inside the gutter, I called the child to come out he could not come out, so we pulled him out.
“When we pulled him out we discovered that he had burnt from his buttocks down to the toes. I took him to St. Luke’s Hospital and there I was asked to get a Police Report before the child would be treated”, the Reverend Sister said.
The Police have expressed optimism that their investigations would yield fruits. Police Public Relations Officer in Akwa Ibom State, Etim Dickson, confirmed to Channels Television that indeed a report was made that some children were branded as witches.
“The name the children mentioned; we had to go to the village. The village head was looked for, brought to the station and he denied that he did not know the suspect. We are still looking forward to seeing those who treated those children in that manner”, he said.
While the Child Rights Law in Akwa-Ibom State makes Child Abuse a punishable offence, it is necessary that those behind this heinous crime are brought to book as a deterrent to others.
