Skip to main content

Survey reveals over 60 percent of Nigerian children are abused before 18

By


A population-based study from the Nigerian Violence Against Children (VAC) survey, have shown that more than six out of every 10 Nigerian children under the age of 18 experience some form of physical, emotional and sexual violence.

The population-based study reportedly carried out by the National Population Commission in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, was released on Thursday in Abuja and it shows that physical violence in childhood is the most common type of abuse reported.
The study however, provides the first national representative data on the prevalence of violence among female and male children in Nigeria and is the first of its kind in the West African sub-region.
The survey also aimed at identifying parents and adults’ relatives as the most common perpetrators of the first incident of physical violence in childhood followed by an adult in the neighbourhood, a peer and an intimate partner.
According to the survey report, childhood violence has a long-term impact that lasts well into adulthood, including poorer mental and physical health outcomes.
Checks by the survey also reveal that one in two children experience physical violence, one in four girls and one in 10 boys experience sexual violence while one in six girls and one in five boys experience emotional violence, noting also that persons who experience physical and sexual violence in childhood are more likely to perpetuate intimate partnership.
The Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission and VAC Goodwill Ambassador, Professor Chidi Odin-Kalu, said violence against children was a public health disorder, adding that the time to take action is now.
The Federal Commissioner, Board of the National Population Commission, Dr Gunde Lakoju, said, “The survey clearly shows that violence against children is not confined to marginalized groups.
“It impacts rich and poor, urban and rural, educated and out-of-school children. It surpasses social and economic status,” Lakoju stated.
The representative, UNICEF Country, Jean Gough, said, “UNICEF will continue to support Nigeria in its efforts to ensure that all children can grow up free from sexual, physical and emotional violence.
“The government of Nigeria is to be commended on the launch of the VAC survey and for its commitment to put an end to it,” Gough added.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

Unemployed man caught for phone theft

By
An unemployed man, Shola Alhassan, 23, was on Friday arraigned before a Badagry Chief Magistrates’ Court over the theft of a phone valued at N52,000. The accused was arraigned on a one count of stealing. The Police prosecutor, Insp. Innocent Uko, told the court that the accused committed the offence on May 12 at 1.30pm, at No 3, Joseph Dosu Road, Badagry, Lagos State. Uko said the accused stole a Samsung S4 phone from one Miss Senyo Balogun. “The victim was walking on the road and was using her phone to listen to music. “The accused, who was on a motorcycle, drove by her side and snatched the phone from her, but fell off his bike so he was caught,” he said. Uko said the offence was punishable under Section 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011. The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the offence and his counsel, Mr. Akin Adewale, pleaded with the court to grant him bail on liberal terms. He said the accused would always attend court hearings. The M...
Post a Comment
Read full story »

Nnamdi Azikiwe’s first son dies at 75

By
Chukwuma Bamidele Azikiwe, the first son of first President of Nigeria, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, is dead. A family source, who pleaded not to be named, said he passed away at Bromeo Hospital on Sunday at the age of 75. It was gathered that he had been battling a protracted respiratory-related ailment for some years. Chukwuma, until his death, was the Owelle of Onitsha, a traditional position he inherited from his father in 1996. Coincidentally, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe died 19 years ago on May 11, 1996. Chukwuma had once contested the governorship seat of the old Anambra State at the end of his diplomatic career, but lost. As Owelle, he was sixth in rank to the Obi of Onitsha.
Post a Comment
Read full story »

OMG! Woman jailed for trying to smuggle heroin in underwear

By
An Australian woman of Vietnamese origin was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Tuesday for trying to smuggle heroin in her underwear, state media reported. Lam Thi Kim Hong Hanh, 38, was caught with 376 grams of the drug at Ho Chi Minh city's Tan Son Nhat airport in December last year, the Cong An Nhan Dan newspaper reported on its website.
Post a Comment
Read full story »