Children’s Day: I won’t tolerate forced marriage, child abduction, Buhari warns

*Urges Stakeholders To Rise Against Violence Against Children

By Henry Umoru

President Muhammadu Buhari On Friday, Warned Against Forced Marriages And

Child Abduction In The Country, Noting That Every Child Has The Right

Of Education

And The Right To Live.

He Also Noted That Decisive Actions Would Be Taken To Stem What He Described As

Unacceptable Cases Of Violence And Intimidation Against Children.

Speaking In Abuja At The 2016 National Children's Day Celebration, Buhari Said:

"Challenges Posed By The Total Breakdown Of Societal Values And The Current

Unrestricted Social Media Vices, Which Therefore, Calls For An Urgent

Need For All

Stakeholders To Put All Hands On Deck In Making Conscious Efforts At Raising

Awareness Of Parents, Family And Communities At All Levels On The

Critical Role Of

Protecting Children Against All Forms Of Violence, Abuse And

Exploitation Including

Abduction Of Children, Forced And Early Marriage.

"As I Said When I Received Amina Ali Nkeki, The Rescued Chibok Girl, Our

Determination And Commitment To The Protection Of Our Children Is Unshaken, This

Government Is Resolute In Our Efforts At Rescuing All The Missing

Chibok Girls, The

Recent Rescue Of Amina Ali Nkeki And Sarah Luka By Our Gallant Soldiers And The

Civilian Jtf Is A Testimony To Our Unwavering Resolve At Defeating Boko Haram

Terrorists. No Nigerian Should Be Put Through The Brutality Of

Abduction, Violence In

Whatever Form Or Forced Marriage. Every Girl Has A Right To Education And Their

Choice Of Life.''

He Further Said: "government Is Committed To Promoting And Protecting The Rights

Of Every Citizen Including Children. This Is Because It Is Our Primary

Responsibility

As Enshrined In The 1999 Constitution Of The Federal Republic Of Nigeria And The

Child Rights Act, 2007.

The Theme Of This Year's Children's Day Celebration Is "Protecting The

Right Of The

Child In The Face Of Violence And Insecurity: End Child Marriage."

Represented At The Event By The Minister Of The Federal Capital Territory

Administration, Fcta, Mallam Muhammad Bello, President Buhari Described

Children's Day Celebration As An Occasion To Remind Children About

Their Duties And

Responsibilities To Parents In Conducting Their Affairs Morally.

"Violence Against Children Comes In So Many Forms And These Acts Lead

To Physical

And Emotional Harm To The Growth And Development Of The Child, This Ultimately

Leads To Permanent Psychological And Emotional Trauma On The Child.

"This Administration Is Committed To Protecting The Rights And Privileges Of All

Nigerian Children. I Challenge All Stakeholders To Rise Up And Take A

Decisive Action

To Stem The Unacceptable Cases Of Violence And Intimidation Against

Our Children.

"I Therefore Charge The Ministry Of Women Affairs And Social

Development To Liaise

With Other Agencies To Work Out Appropriate Programmes Including Actions And

Measures That Would Help In Fighting The Scourge Of Child Abuse, Child

Abduction,

Child Labour And Child Trafficking, Among Others."