The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has urged parents to report all cases of sexual abuse on their children to appropriate authorities for necessary action.
The FCT Commander of the corps, Patrick Ukpan, made this known in Abuja at a sensitization exercise aimed at enlightening kids on how to speak out whenever they were sexually abused.
Ukpan, who was represented by the Assistant Commandant in-charge of Peace and Conflict unit, Patience Adikwu, also urged parents to watch out for unusual signs to detect when the children have been sexually abused.
He said: “Research has shown that the rates with which children are been abused sexually has been on the rise, which calls for urgent measures to address the menace.
“We decided to create awareness for little children to understand what sexual violence is and also to get their parents to hear and know how to prevent and discover the ignoble act on time.
“As parents, when you see your child is unnecessarily withdrawn, try to draw that child close and then ask questions.
“Maybe the way the child walks now has changed. For instance, the child is trying to limp or something; and you know that that was not how the child was walking in the morning before you left the home; do ask questions.
“Take that child in; try to open her up and see if you will notice some of those things.”
Also speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the sensitization exercise, the Assistant Director of Special Duties, FCT Directorate of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Chinwe Ikearaoha, stressed the need for regular awareness to curb the menace.
She said that the programme was also to encourage children not to be intimidated by anyone who abuses them sexually.
“The rate of child sexual abuse in Nigeria is alarming. Even in the house, some parents are doing it.
“The children are been intimidated. So, NOA is working to let the children know that they have the right to speak out.
“That is why we partnered with the NSCDC to organize this exercise so as to let our children know how to guide themselves against it and how to actually speak out if they are been molested,” Ikearaoha said.
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