By Isaac Mission
The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development has condemned the alleged abuse of a 12-year-old boy, Master Ugonna Uzoma, in Aba, Abia State, reportedly involving his father.
The ministry described the incident as a serious violation of the child’s dignity and fundamental rights, while calling for stronger measures to protect children from violence both within families and in digital spaces.
In a statement issued in Abuja by the Head of Press and Public Relations, Ahmed Lawan Danbazau, the ministry also expressed concern over a separate case in Onitsha, Anambra State, where a video allegedly showed a mother abusing her daughters.
The ministry stressed that being a parent or caregiver does not give anyone the right to subject a child to violence, cruelty, torture or degrading treatment.
It said, “Parental authority must never be used to violate a child’s dignity, bodily integrity or fundamental rights.”
The ministry commended the Nigeria Police Force and the Abia State Ministry of Women Affairs for their intervention in the Aba case, including the arrest of the alleged perpetrator and the placement of the child in protective care.
It said the response underscored the importance of swift action whenever the safety or wellbeing of a child is at risk.
On the Anambra case, the ministry praised the state police command, the Anambra State Ministry of Women Affairs, the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) and other stakeholders for responding promptly to the allegations.
It expressed particular concern that the alleged abuse was recorded and potentially circulated online, warning that sharing such material could deepen the trauma experienced by child victims.
According to the ministry, abuse remains a serious offence regardless of whether it happens privately or is captured and distributed online. It therefore urged Nigerians not to download, repost, forward or otherwise circulate videos and photographs depicting abused children.
Instead, members of the public who encounter such material were advised to retain relevant information securely and report the matter to law enforcement agencies, child-protection bodies or social-welfare authorities.
The ministry stressed that reporting suspected abuse helps protect victims, while making disturbing footage viral can expose them to additional humiliation and psychological harm.
It further noted that Nigeria’s Child Rights Act of 2003 and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act of 2015 provide legal protections against child abuse, exploitation, torture and other forms of violence.
The ministry said children should be treated as rights-holders, adding that parents, caregivers, communities and institutions all have a responsibility to safeguard their welfare.
It also linked the Federal Government’s position to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s stated commitment to protecting women and children and combating gender-based violence.
The ministry said the commitment extends to emerging forms of abuse, including online exploitation, cyber-enabled violence, digital harassment and the misuse of technology to expose or humiliate victims.
It encouraged Nigerians to remain vigilant and report suspected cases of child abuse, domestic violence, sexual violence and technology-facilitated abuse through authorised channels, including the police, state ministries responsible for women affairs and social development, NAPTIP, FIDA and other recognised child-protection organisations.
The ministry also called for closer cooperation among government agencies, law-enforcement bodies, the judiciary, civil society organisations, development partners and other stakeholders to improve prevention, reporting, victim support and prosecution.
It urged parents, schools, religious and traditional institutions, media organisations and technology platforms to strengthen safeguards for children, particularly as their exposure to digital spaces continues to increase.
The ministry maintained that violence should not be excused simply because it occurs within the home, is presented as discipline or is amplified through social media.
It pledged continued collaboration with relevant institutions to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice where allegations are established, while victims receive appropriate protection and support.
