The Federal Government has condemned the inhumane treatment of children in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, carried out under the guise of a “spiritual cleansing” exercise.
In a statement issued on behalf of the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, by her Special Adviser on Media & Publicity, Mr. Jonathan Eze, the Minister described the act as “barbaric, criminal, and a gross violation of the Child Rights Act.”
She stressed the Tinubu administration’s zero tolerance for any form of child abuse, warning that anyone — including parents, guardians, community leaders, or strangers — found culpable will face the full weight of the law under the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act.
The Minister commended the Nigeria Police Force, especially the Rivers State Command, for its swift action, and the Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Hajiya Binta Bello, for promptly deploying a team to rescue and safeguard the victims.
She also praised vigilant citizens who recorded and exposed the abuse, noting that their courage reflects the Ministry’s “See Something, Say Something, We Will Do Something” campaign. She, however, urged the public to report such incidents directly to law enforcement agencies like the Police or NAPTIP for quicker intervention and to protect the privacy of victims.
The rescued children are now in protective custody and receiving full care and support in line with the domesticated Child Rights Act across Nigeria’s 36 states.
Reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, she said: “We will not rest until Nigeria is 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.”
ADEOLA KUNLE
