The Federal Government has condemned the viral video showing a cleric flogging a group of minors in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, describing the act as “barbaric, criminal, and a gross violation of the Child Rights Act.”
In a statement issued on Saturday by Jonathan Eze, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, the Minister reaffirmed the government’s zero tolerance for child abuse.
“No matter who the perpetrators are—be it strangers, community leaders, or parents—any individual or group found culpable will be prosecuted under the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act. This includes parents or guardians who aided or condoned the abuse,” she said.
The Minister praised the swift response of the Nigeria Police Force, especially the Rivers State Command, and commended NAPTIP Director-General, Hajiya Binta Bello, for promptly deploying her team to rescue and protect the victims.
She also lauded the citizens who recorded and shared the video, noting that their actions reflect the spirit of the Ministry’s “See Something, Say Something, We Will Do Something” campaign. However, she urged the public to report such incidents directly to the Police, NAPTIP, or other relevant agencies to ensure timely intervention while safeguarding the victims’ privacy.
The rescued children are currently in protective custody and receiving medical and psychosocial care, in line with the provisions of the domesticated Child Rights Act across all 36 states.
