NAPTIP, PRIESTS, EDUCATIONISTS DECRY PERVASIVE CHILD ABUSE IN IGBO LAND

REPORTER: CHRISTIAN NWANGENE

A report by the National Survey on Violence Against Children, published by the National Population Commission, the US Centers for Disease Control and UNICEF, shows that six out of every ten children in Nigeria suffer one or more forms of physical, sexual or emotional violence before they reach 18.

According to the survey, more than 70% experience this violence repeatedly.

The report reveals that one out of two suffer physical violence, such as punching, kicking, whipping, burning, choking, trying to drown, threatening or hitting with a weapon.

“One in four girls and one in ten boys have experienced sexual violence; one in five boys and one in six girls suffer emotional violence,” so says the report.

Mostly, the perpetrators are someone the child knows and the violence often takes place where the child should be safe – in their homes, in a neighbour’s home, at school, and coming to and from school.

The vast majority of children never speak out: they are either silenced by fear, shame, stigma or lack the knowledge of where to seek help.

Fewer than five per cent of children who are victims of violence ever get the help that they need to recover.

It is against this backdrop that some stakeholders in Enugu State have canvassed sustained sensitization and multi-sectoral responses to reverse the trend because of its negative consequences on the society and the development of the child. 

A Professor of Developmental Psychology, Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Enugu, Mrs. Regina Eya, while reviewing the book, “Psychological Interpretation of Child Abuse, a Research in Igboland of Nigeria” written by a Catholic Priest, D.r Benedict Chidi Ugwuanyi,  advocated the need for younger people to be educated and exposed to the act of good parenting.

Professor Eya argued that educating them about parenting would go a long way in reducing incidences of child abuse either as parents or caregivers, which is prevalent in the society.

She expressed regret that many parents and caregivers abuse children under their care through several punishment without knowing that they were infringing upon their (children’s) human rights.

While stressing that punishing a child is a necessary part of upbringing, Professor Eya, however urged parents to be mindful and careful not to exceed the boundary of punishment and discipline.

According to her, any abused child see themselves as worthless as result of the abuse and called on the relevant government authorities to intervene in halting the ugly trend.

Professor Eya, enumerated physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological abuse, child neglect and child labour as five types of child abuse.

She noted that psychological abuse, which affects the mental health of a child, was the worst form of child abuse.

While interacting with Radio Nigeria, the Head of Public Enlightment, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) Enugu, Mrs. Amarachi Isiani, said that violence against children was a pervasive problem.

According to the NAPTIP official, the Agency is prosecuting many cases relating to child abuse in Enugu State, which she regretted was committed by those considered as elites in the society.

Mrs. Isiani pointed out that the agency would not keep quiet and allow Nigerian children being abused or dehumanised by their parents or caregivers without intervening, warning that anyone caught would face the music.

She called on the members of the public to report cases of child abuse as that would significantly help to eradicate the abuse from the society.

The Principal, College of the Immaculate Conception (CIC) Enugu, the Very Reverend Father Hilary Mgbodile, while supporting an end to child abuse, however warned against imbibing the western method of raising children in Africa.

According to the Very Rev. Fr. Mgbodile, the African society has a method of bringing up its children and as such should not be allowed to be eroded by the condemnation from the Western world.   

The priest stressed the need to bring up children culturally with good Igbo value system without exceeding bounds, while stressing the need to reorient parents about what child abuse meant.

In an interview, the author of the book, “Psychological Interpretation of Child Abuse: a research in Igboland of Nigeria,” a Priest with the Catholic Diocese of Nsukka Diocese, Dr. Benedict Chidi Ugwuanyi, said the abuse meted out to Nigerian children, especially in the South East, motivated him into writing the book, which he believed would correct the societal-ill.

The Catholic Priest stressed that there was a lot of child abuse going on in South East region, as cases of sexual, physical and psychological abuse against children were reported by the media on a daily basis.

He lamented that child neglect and child labour were unfortunately becoming a norm in the Igbo society, a trend that was not known to the Igbo society in the past.  

Dr. Ugwuanyi said there were a couple of things that adults could do to promote safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments for all children.

He maintained that caregivers should never underestimate the power of caring relationship with children.

“One of the most important factors in the life of a child is having an adult who cares for them and treats them with respect-who will listen to them if they have an adverse experience to share, volunteer, be a mentor, or otherwise get involved in the life of a child as a safe adult through healthy and appropriate interactions.

“Model the patience, kindness and many other qualities that we hope our children will expect from all adults in their lives, and that they will later examplify in their own journeys to adulthood.

“Again, some parents while bringing up their children pay attention to the aspects of discipline. Unfortunately, many parents do not know the difference between child discipline and child abuse,” the priest remarked with regret.