By Asma’u Ahmad
Stakeholders on child protection in Gombe State have called on Nigerians to join hands in exposing any adult caught violating the rights of children.
The stakeholders made the appeal at a three-day Child Protection System Strengthening (CPSS) meeting in Gombe.
Newsmen report that the meeting was at the instance of the United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Bauchi Field Office, with support from European Union (EU), United Nations (UN) and other international organisations.
Mr. Maina Bonus of Elshadai Skills Development Organisation said that shielding perpetrators of violence against children would do more harm than good for the society.
He said that the future of children in the state could be guaranteed only if those involved in such immoral act were exposed and eventually brought to book.
“We should not have silent camps when any form of violence is being meted on children in our community. When it happens, we should try our best to expose them because that is the only way we can give our children a better future.
“When they are brought to book, it will serve as a deterrent to others who are nurturing such evil plans in their hearts,” he said.
On his part, Mr. Moses Sambo, said exposing the bad elements who perpetrate violence against children was a right step in the direction.
He, however, cautioned that such elements must be exposed via legal means, as illegality shouldn’t be encouraged.
“I am solely in support of this action, because exposing these bad eggs in the society will guarantee the safety of our children, but I must also advise that it must be done through a legal means,” he advised.
He called on religious, community and traditional leaders to support this vision with a view of ending violence against children in the state.
