Child Abuse: Impact on Nigerian Children

Most African countries and indeed Nigeria has stepped up in tackling the issue of child abuse across the 36 states of the federation. With this kind of consented effort, one would have thought that this menace would have been reduced to the barest minimum. However a critical look at the Nigerian society shows that child abuse is still ongoing and has a huge impact on the mental health of children.
In recent times, the campaign group, Human Rights Watch (HRW), did focus on mental facilities in Nigeria, and discovered that thousands of mentally ill people in Nigeria are being abused and kept in chains in care facilities.
Its researchers visited nearly 30 private and state- run centres across the country. In all but one, they found patients (children inclusive) being chained up. Staff at the facilities said the practice stops the patients from leaving or harming others. Some months ago, authorities have carried out a series of raids on religious centres, freeing more than 1,000 people who had been kept in shackles. Joining us now from our Abuja studio is Taiwo Akinlami, UNICEF consultant and child right advocate.

Arise,News,Child Abuse,Taiwo Akinlami,UNICEF,