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From Scholastica Onyeka, Makurdi
Seven cases of child sexual abuse have been reported at Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Benue State in the month of April alone.
This was disclosed at a quarterly meeting of the Benue State Child’s Right Implementation Committee, (SCRIC), hosted by the Benue State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in collaboration with the Sexual Offences Awareness and Response, (SOAR), initiative, in Makurdi.
SOAR Initiative is funded by United Nations Trust Fund, (UNTF), and the African Women’s Development Fund, (AWDF), to carry out its activities in Benue State including the prevention of all forms of child sexual abuse as well as providing care and support for victims and survivors.
The Project Officer for SOAR, Mr Chibuzor Njoku, who disclosed this while giving outcomes of their activities in Benue IDP camps and in some communities in the state, said six cases of sexual abuse were reported to the Camp Child Protection Committee, (CCPC), set up by SOAR, in Anyiin IDP camp, in Logo Local Government Area, LGA.
According to him, while two of the cases happened within the community, four other cases took place at the IDP camp.
Among the cases reported include community boys impregnating two IDP girls in Anyiin IDP camp.
He also noted that a case of rape was reported in Gbajimba IDP camp 1, in Guma LGA, involving a 35-year-old man who raped three minors 9, 10 and 10 years old.
He said the culprit has been charged in court and the case is being prosecuted.
Njoku also disclosed that SOAR received a reported case of child marriage in Gbajimba IDP camp 1.
He explained that the child’s mother who is visually impaired needed money and felt that marrying out the child will help her get the resources. It was also reported that the supposed husband married her and took her to Taraba where he lives.
Njoku said the CCPC is working with relevant stakeholders to locate the man and return the child to her mother who is currently living in the camp.
He disclosed that as part of measures to curtail all forms of child sexual abuse in the state, SOAR Initiative, a child rights protection advocacy Non-Governmental Organisation, NGO, has established the CCPC in three IDP camps including Anyiin in Logo LGA, Gbajimba and Uikpam in Guma LGA and in Naka in Gwer West LGA and in their communities.
He said the organisation has held dialogue meetings with the community and IDP camp leaders and developed by-laws to enable them to provide support for the prevention of all forms of child sexual abuse in the state.
