The brutal amputation of 12-year-old Adamu’s arms by his uncle, accused of phone theft, has sparked outrage and calls for stronger child protection measures in Nigeria. The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Gombe Branch has condemned the act, urging immediate implementation of child protection laws to prevent such abuses.
In a press statement, Mwalin Abdu, Vice Chairperson of the NBA Gombe Branch and Chairperson of its Human Rights Committee, highlighted the recurrence of child abuse in Gombe State, citing a similar incident in 2018 involving 13-year-old Zubair Abubakar. Abdu emphasized that these cases are merely the tip of a larger iceberg, with countless incidents of child abuse going unreported daily.
“The heartbreaking tales of young victims like Zubair Abubakar and Adamu from Gombe State underscore a troubling reality: child abuse remains a pervasive issue in our communities,” Abdu said. “While the ratification of the child protection law in 2022 was a pivotal step, the gap between legislation and its effective enforcement looms large, leaving children at risk and their futures uncertain.”
Despite the ratification of a child protection law in 2022, Abdu pointed out the significant gap between legislation and enforcement, leaving many children vulnerable. She called on stakeholders to address this urgent issue and ensure the law is effectively implemented to safeguard the future of Gombe’s children.
In response to the recent incident, the Gombe State government has filed charges against Adamu’s uncle, who will face prosecution for the grievous assault. As the community reels from the shock of this tragedy, the call for justice and enhanced protection for minors grows louder, urging authorities to take decisive action against such atrocities and prevent further abuse of the state’s most vulnerable citizens.
