An Ilorin based Non-Governmental Organization (NGO); Grand-Charity Youth Development (GCYD), has called for stiffer penalty against child molesters.
The Coordinator of the organisation, Mr Ibrahim Shuaib, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Ilorin.
Shuaib urged the Kwara Government and the state House of Assembly to review the Child Law Act and make it stiffer to accommodate longer years of imprisonment for anyone found culpable.
He said that stiffer penalty will serve as deterrent towards curbing the menace in the society.
Shuaib, who is also a legal practitioner, however advocated for speedy dispensation of justice in the case of anyone alleged to have sexually molested a child.
According to him, the NGO had report of over 10 cases of child molestation in the past one week, saying but for fear of stigma some parents resolved to settle it at home.
He added that there must be stipulated time to which child molestation case should last in the court.
He added that dragging the matter is not healthy for the society who are anxiously waiting to see what becomes of the molester.
He also called on parents who may not have financial mussle to prosecute case against the offenders to approach the association, assuring that GCYD is battle ready to do it on Pro Bono.
A pharmacist from the University of Ilorin and member of the NGO, MrsbHaishat Olufadi-Ahmed, advised parents to be sensitive to their children’s plights, urging them to report to the appropriate authority any strange development noticed on their child’s body.
She enjoined parents to speak out and stop being afraid of any form of stigma associated with the menace, saying they will help save the future of their children especially, the girl child.
She said: “In this period of Coronavirus when children are home, fathers, mothers, let us all watch for our children, that neighbour that makes your girl sit on his lap, that brother that’s being overly close to your family, be careful.
“Watch out for signs, check if your girl cries, every weep, shout, scream are messages that must be attended to.”
