AI and FG team up to combat attacks on children

In order to combat assaults on schools, Amnesty International has stated that it will work with the federal government.

In addition, AI said that it has noticed a sudden increase in incidents of violence against children in educational settings. Parents of kids who had either died, had grave injuries, or found themselves in a very tough situation as a result of peer and teacher bullying came into contact with the organization.

This information was presented by AI on Thursday in Abuja during a one-day stakeholders dialogue on preventing violence against children in schools.

Isa Salihu, the organization’s acting country director, said that AI wants to put an end to violence against children in schools. He added that the organization will compile ideas and suggestions put up by stakeholders on this issue and develop these suggestions into a policy paper.

Salihu stated, “All the ideas that will be tabled before us at the end of the meeting will be used to write policy suggestions to the Nigerian government and to meet and engage the in-coming minister of education to make sure that there is a strong policy that will protect children from violence in schools.

“We observe that in recent years, there has been a spontaneous rise in cases of violence against children in schools. We have been in contact with parents of children who have either died or severely injured or were put in a very difficult situation because of bullying by teachers, and peers.

We evaluate the issues before examining the causes of the incidents.

Recalling three significant incidents of children dying in their schools under highly contentious circumstances, he made clear that the conclusion was that the institutions were either negligent or continued to use outdated and ineffective corporal punishment, which exposed children to violence.

He lamented the poor state of Nigeria’s judicial system and asked people in positions of power to make it their job to see that it is fixed.

He remarked, “The reason why we are not aware of the scale of the violence in schools is because many parents believe that even when they speak out or seek justice, they will not get it.

“That is why they don’t have confidence in the justice and criminal justice systems of this country because there is a lack of capacity of the police to conduct thorough investigations, a lack of cooperation between the police and the courts, and corruption.

“We want to also engage people in the judiciary to ensure that they give priority to the issues of children.”

The mother of Keren Akpagher, a 14-year-old victim of Premier Academy who was raped by Vivienne Akpagher, described her story in an emotional voice. She described how her daughter was discovered to have been raped and molested, which led to her death.

Additionally, Mrs. Akpagher disclosed that the results of the autopsy revealed that her daughter had also been sodomized.

She said, “During her medication, I discovered that she was raped. I was with her when she passed. She was discovered to have been molested, raped, and sodomised in the autopsy carried out by the doctors.

“I am a victim because I have not gotten that justice that I need to survive. After all, before I survive I must get the justice that will lead to my healing. I haven’t started. I am still fighting to understand what happened to me.

“When I was growing up my mom told me that education was everything but I look at her in the face and say it is the least of what I think. I used to think having an education but it’s overrated because where we get that education is no longer safe for vulnerable children.”

She claimed she was overly trusting because parents put so much faith in the schools, but the outcome was unpleasant. She recommended parents to talk to their kids frequently and watch out for warning signs.