The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development has condemned the alleged brutal abuse of a 12-year-old boy in Aba, Abia State, and reported technology-facilitated abuse of children in Onitsha, Anambra State.
The Ministry, in a statement issued in Abuja, said the incidents were grave violations of children’s rights, stressing that parental authority must never be used to undermine a child’s dignity, bodily integrity and fundamental rights.
It commended the Nigeria Police Force and Abia State Ministry of Women Affairs for their prompt intervention in the Aba case, including the arrest of the alleged perpetrator and placement of the child under protective care.
The Ministry also praised the Nigeria Police, Anambra State Command, the state Ministry of Women Affairs, FIDA and other stakeholders for their swift response to the Onitsha case, involving material allegedly showing a mother abusing her daughters.
It warned that abuse does not become less serious because it is recorded or shared online, noting that circulating such material further violates children’s privacy and dignity while exposing victims to additional humiliation and trauma.
The Ministry therefore urged Nigerians not to download, repost, forward or circulate videos or images depicting abused children.
It advised anyone who encounters such material to preserve relevant information securely, avoid further dissemination and report it immediately to law-enforcement, child-protection or social-welfare authorities.
“Reporting suspected abuse is an act of protection; making abusive material viral is not,” the Minister stated.
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It stressed that competent authorities must be allowed to investigate cases, protect victims, provide medical and psychosocial support, preserve evidence and pursue justice where wrongdoing is established.
According to the Ministry, the Child Rights Act 2003 and Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015 provide a legal framework for protecting children from abuse, exploitation, torture and other forms of violence.
It said the Federal Government remained committed to protecting women and children and maintaining zero tolerance for gender-based violence, including online exploitation, digital harassment and cyber-enabled abuse.
The Ministry called on parents, caregivers, communities, schools, religious and traditional institutions, media organisations and technology platforms to strengthen vigilance and ensure suspected abuse is reported promptly.
It further pledged to deepen collaboration with state governments, law-enforcement agencies, the judiciary, NAPTIP, FIDA, civil society organisations and development partners to strengthen prevention, referral, survivor support and accountability.
The Ministry said coordinated action would ensure proper prosecution and timely judgments in the cases, serving as a deterrent and reinforcing the principle that violence must never be normalised, whether committed within the home, disguised as discipline or amplified online.
