By Uriel Ihotu
The Federal Government has condemned in strong terms the dehumanizing treatment of children in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, carried out under the guise of a “spiritual cleansing” ritual.
In a statement issued on behalf of the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, by her Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Jonathan Eze, the act was described as “barbaric, criminal, and a gross violation of the Child Rights Act.”
The Minister reaffirmed the Tinubu administration’s zero-tolerance stance on child abuse, stressing that no offender whether parent, guardian, community leader, or stranger would escape justice. She said anyone found culpable will be prosecuted under the Child Rights Act and the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act.
“The Federal Government will not tolerate any form of abuse against children. Those who commit such heinous acts, or aid and condone them in any way, will face the full weight of the law,” Sulaiman-Ibrahim warned.
She commended the Nigeria Police Force, particularly the Rivers State Command, for its swift response, as well as the Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Hajiya Binta Bello, for promptly deploying her team to safeguard the victims.
The Minister also hailed vigilant citizens who documented the abuse, describing their courage as “the spirit of our ‘See Something, Say Something, We Will Do Something’ campaign.” She, however, urged the public to report such incidents directly to law enforcement agencies to ensure timely intervention and protect the privacy of victims.
According to the Ministry, the rescued children are now in protective custody and receiving comprehensive care in line with the provisions of the Child Rights Act, which has been domesticated in all 36 states of the federation.
Reiterating the commitment of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Minister assured that government will intensify efforts to shield every Nigerian child from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
“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,” the statement concluded.
