The Federal Government condemned a viral video showing minors being flogged by a cleric.
Officials described the Port Harcourt incident as barbaric and a gross violation of children’s rights.
The Federal Government has strongly condemned a viral video showing a cleric flogging several minors in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, describing the act as a serious violation of children’s rights.
In a statement released on Saturday by Jonathan Eze, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, the minister labelled the incident “barbaric, criminal, and a gross violation of the Child Rights Act.”
She stressed that the government would not condone any form of abuse against children. “Whether by strangers, community leaders, or parents, anyone found guilty of such acts will face justice under the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act. This includes any parent or guardian who participated in or tolerated the abuse,” she warned.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim commended the Nigeria Police Force, Rivers State Command, for its swift response and also praised NAPTIP Director-General Hajiya Binta Bello for promptly deploying her team to rescue and secure the children. She further appreciated citizens who recorded and shared the video, noting that their bravery reflects the spirit of the government’s “See Something, Say Something, We Will Do Something” campaign.
However, she urged the public to report such cases directly to the police, NAPTIP, or other relevant agencies to ensure quick intervention without exposing victims’ identities or jeopardizing rescue efforts.
According to the ministry, the rescued children have been placed under protective custody and are currently receiving medical care and psychosocial support, in line with the Child Rights Act, which is now fully domesticated across all 36 states.
