The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development has condemned the alleged brutal abuse of a 12-year-old boy, Master Ugonna Uzoma, in Aba, Abia State, reportedly perpetrated by his father, describing the incident as a grave violation of the child’s dignity and fundamental rights.

The Ministry, in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja by the Head of Press and Public Relations Department, Ahmed Lawan Danbazau, also expressed concern over a separate case of alleged technology-facilitated abuse involving children in Onitsha, Anambra State, where a video purportedly showed a mother abusing her daughters.

It said parental authority must never be used as a justification for violence, torture, cruelty or humiliation, stressing that every child is entitled to protection from all forms of abuse.

“The Ministry unequivocally condemns all acts of violence, torture, cruelty, humiliation and abuse against children. Parental authority must never be used to violate a child’s dignity, bodily integrity or fundamental rights,” it stated.

The Ministry commended the Nigeria Police Force and the Abia State Ministry of Women Affairs for their prompt intervention in the Aba case, including the arrest of the alleged perpetrator and the placement of the child under protective care.

It said the coordinated response by the authorities demonstrated the need for government agencies and other stakeholders to prioritise the safety and best interests of children whenever their lives or wellbeing are threatened.

Similarly, the Ministry commended the Nigeria Police Force, Anambra State Command, the Anambra State Ministry of Women Affairs, the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) and other stakeholders for their swift intervention in the Onitsha case.

It noted that the alleged abuse was made more troubling by the recording and possible circulation of the material online, warning that digital dissemination of images or videos depicting abused children could compound the harm suffered by victims.

“Abuse is no less serious because it is recorded or shared online. Recording, uploading or circulating such material compounds the harm, violates children’s privacy and dignity, and exposes them to further humiliation and trauma,” the Ministry stated.

It consequently urged members of the public not to download, repost, forward or circulate videos and images depicting abused children, warning that further dissemination could constitute an additional violation of their rights.

The Ministry advised anyone who encounters such material to preserve relevant information securely, refrain from sharing it and immediately report the matter to law enforcement, child-protection or social-welfare authorities.

“Reporting suspected abuse is an act of protection; making abusive material viral is not,” it stated, stressing that competent authorities should be allowed to investigate allegations, secure victims, provide medical and psychosocial support, preserve evidence and pursue justice where wrongdoing is established.

The Ministry recalled that the Child Rights Act (CRA) 2003 and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015, provide legal frameworks for protecting children from abuse, exploitation, torture, inhuman and degrading treatment and other forms of violence.

It emphasised that the laws recognise every child as a rights-holder and place a shared responsibility on parents, caregivers, communities and institutions to ensure their protection.

The Ministry said the Federal Government’s position was also consistent with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to protecting the dignity, safety and wellbeing of women and children and maintaining zero tolerance for gender-based violence in all its forms.

It noted that such commitment extended to online exploitation, digital harassment, cyber-enabled abuse and the misuse of digital platforms to expose, humiliate or further traumatise victims.

The Ministry appreciated members of the public whose vigilance helped bring the cases to the attention of the authorities, urging Nigerians to continue reporting suspected child abuse, domestic violence, sexual violence and technology-facilitated gender-based violence through appropriate channels.

It listed the Nigeria Police Force, state ministries responsible for women affairs and social development, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), FIDA and other authorised child-protection and justice institutions among the channels available for reporting.

It further called for stronger collaboration among state ministries, law-enforcement agencies, the judiciary, NAPTIP, FIDA, civil society organisations, development partners and other stakeholders to strengthen prevention, reporting, referral, survivor support and accountability.

According to the Ministry, it would also promote stronger safeguards for women and children in digital spaces, while urging parents, caregivers, communities, schools, religious and traditional institutions, media organisations and technology platforms to play their respective roles in protecting children.

The Ministry stressed that violence must not be normalised because it occurred within the family, was disguised as discipline or was amplified online.

It pledged that, through coordinated action by government institutions, communities and citizens, it would work to ensure proper prosecution and timely judgments in the cases, where wrongdoing was established, as a deterrent and a step towards building a society free from violence, exploitation and humiliation both offline and online.