By Our Reporter
Abuja (PRECISE POST) – As Nigeria joins the rest of the globe in marking the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression, the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Dr. Tony Ojukwu OFR, SAN, has issued a resounding call to action, warning that millions of Nigerian children are under siege from abuse, exploitation, and systemic neglect.
This call was contained in a statement issued through the NHRC’s Director of Corporate Affairs and External Linkages, Fatimah Agwai Mohammed, made available to Precise Post on Wednesday in Abuja.
In ths statement, she echoed Dr. Ojukwu’s appeal for a collective national effort to safeguard Nigeria’s children.
Dr. Ojukwu minced no words in describing the devastating impact of conflict, poverty, and insecurity on the nation’s youngest citizens. “From the conflict-ridden North East to the disrupted classrooms in the South East, Nigerian children are being robbed of their future,” he declared.
The annual observance on June 4 is meant to spotlight the suffering of children worldwide who are victims of physical, emotional, and psychological aggression. But for Nigeria, Dr. Ojukwu stressed, the day is more than symbolic – it is a grim reminder of the ongoing crisis facing vulnerable children, especially in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, where children are often left to beg, exploited, and traumatized.
“Children in IDP camps are not just displaced, they are discarded by a system that has failed them,” he lamented.
The NHRC chief drew attention to children in the North East displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency, as well as those in the South East, where the persistent “sit-at-home” orders have denied thousands access to quality education.
Despite ongoing government efforts such as the School Feeding Programme, Safe School Initiative, and the Child Protection Information Management System (CPIMS), Dr. Ojukwu said progress is not enough. He called on the National Assembly to urgently pass the National Policy on Safety, Security, and Violence-Free Schools, stressing the need for a legal framework that ensures schools remain sanctuaries of learning and safety.
He further urged full enforcement of the Child Rights Act and bolstered government support for education, healthcare, and security reforms, particularly in vulnerable communities.
Of particular concern to the NHRC is the plight of Almajiri children, who continue to face abuse and denial of basic rights. “No Nigerian child should live without access to education or the protection of the law,” Dr. Ojukwu said.
“Working together, we can create a society where children are valued, respected, and protected from all forms of violence and abuse.”
