Plateau State is said to have recorded 247 cases of violence against minors from January to October this year.
This was made known by the Plateau State Coordinator of the National Human Rights Commission, Grace Nanyam Pam during a joint Press briefing on Monday.
The joint Press briefing which was organised by the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, International Federation of Women Lawyers FIDA and the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC was held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ Secretariat in Jos, Plateau State.
The Human Rights State Coordinator while speaking made mention of the recent grievous physical abuse meted on an 11 year old Margret Joshua by one Mrs. Nneamaka Nwachukwu in Vom, Jos South Local Government Area of the State.
She decried the reoccurrence of what she described as inhuman activities perpetrated by humans in the state, disclosing that their records has about 247 reported cases of violence against children between January to October, 2022.
On her part, the Chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, Obioma Ngozi Achilefu narrated the incident and the role they have played and are still on course to ensure justice for the victim, late Margret Joshua.
She said FIDA was at K-Vom Police Station on receiving the information where they met with the perpetrator, a 31 year old Mrs. Nneamaka Nwachukwu and a mother of 2 children who hails from Enugu but married to an Imo indigene.
According to her, upon interaction with the perpetrator, she said the victim, Margret Joshua was given to masturbation and lesbianism, but claimed that it was not her intention to burn the victim with boiled water but that she boiled the water to soak her towel before beating her.
“We hope that the investigation will soon be concluded and the perpetrator prosecuted because the world is listening, watching and waiting for the outcome of this case” said the FIDA chairperson.
Earlier, the Plateau State Chairman of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, Nene Dung called on the Plateau State government through the Ministry of Women Affairs to provide a safe home for surviving victims of such violence, where they can stay and be cared for before rejoining the society.
She also called on parents and guidances not to give out minors as house helps, saying children should be in School and only adults be engaged as house maids.
They both called on citizens to speak out by exposing perpetrators of such menace in the society. “We will not rest on our oars until there has been justice for Margaret” said the women groups.
“We remain resolute to securing justice for women and children whose rights are violated in Nigeria through the provision of free legal representation and advocacy for gender friendly reforms of the law” said FIDA