Mwalin Abdu, the Vice Chairperson of the Nigerian Bar Association’s Gombe Branch, has condemned the recent amputation of the arms of 12-year-old Adamu in connection with an alleged phone theft in the Akko Local Government Area of Gombe State.
Abdu, who also serves as the Chairperson of the NBA’s Human Rights Committee, issued a press statement titled ‘Protecting our future: Urgent action needed on child safety in Gombe State’ to commemorate the 2024 Children’s Day. In the statement, she condemned the maltreatment of the child and emphasized the need for authorities to execute the child protection law to combat abuse, highlighting the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing heinous offences against minors.
Abdu stated, “In 2018, we woke up to the story of young Zubair Abubakar (13 years old), whose arms were amputated because of the abuse by his teacher. Just four days ago, there was another devastating story of 12-year-old Adamu from Tumu District in Akko LG of the same Gombe State, who also lost his arms due to a similar incident with Zubair Abubakar over the alleged theft of his phone.”
While acknowledging that the office of the Attorney General has taken over the prosecution of the cases, Abdu expressed that this is not enough, as these two stories are just the “tip of the iceberg” of the numerous daily reported and unreported cases of child abuse in the state, ranging from sexual abuse, child labour, child molestation, and child trafficking.
Abdu condemned the effects of the abuses perpetrated in the state, stating, “The heartbreaking tales of young victims like Zubair Abubakar and Adamu from Gombe State underscore a troubling reality: child abuse remains a pervasive issue in our communities, transcending mere headlines to expose the harsh realities faced by our most vulnerable members.”
She added, “While the ratification of the child protection law in 2022 was a pivotal step, the gap between legislation and its effective enforcement looms large, leaving children at risk and their futures uncertain.”
Urging stakeholders to take immediate action, Abdu said, “The time for passive observance has passed; the safeguarding of every child’s well-being demands immediate and resolute action. Gombe State must move swiftly to implement and enforce the child protection law, ensuring that those who exploit and harm our children face the full force of justice.”
Abdu emphasized the need for robust reporting mechanisms, specialized victim support services, and widespread awareness campaigns to address the rampant abuse, exploitation, and trafficking that plague the state.
While congratulating the millions of children in the state on National Children’s Day, Abdu urged for proper support to ensure their safety, stating that “their safety is non-negotiable, and our duty is unwavering: to shield them from harm and equip them with the resilience to surmount the challenges that lie ahead.”
