ALARMED by the growing presence of children on the streets, communities and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Cross River State have called for a stop to child abuse in the society.

To achieve this, they called for proactive measures on the part of governments and relevant agencies.

The appeal was made in Calabar at a Town Hall Campaign for Prevention of Child Abuse in Cross River State organised by a coalition of NGOs and Community Based Organisations (CBOs) under Prevent Abuse of Children Today (PACT).

They frowned on the frequent abuse of children in the society despite extant laws.

Describing it as “a nice gesture by PACT,” the communities, comprising the Efiks, Yorubas, and Hausas living in Calabar, called on relevant stakeholders to key into the campaign, noting that children were gift from God.

Speaking earlier, the Coordinator of PACT, Dr. Esther Onoyom-Ita said a new report by UNICEF had shown that “majority of children in Nigeria suffered from violent abuse from parents or guardians before their first birthday.”

This, according to her, “must stop if we want a healthy and safe society.”