- * Seeks Assistance To Rehabilitate Minors
By David Odama (In Lafia, Nasarawa State)
Worried by the increasing cases of early marriage, child abuse and sexual molestation in Nasarawa state, a NON Governmental Organization, GAMMUN Centre for Care and Development Nigeria, has raised an alarm over increased cases and called for interventions to stem the astronomical rise in the state.
The Executive Director of the organization, Blessing Tulari, told Journalists in Lafia that her organization was overwhelmed attending to cases of child abuse, molestation, forceful early marriages, among other issues.
"The situation has reached an alarming proportion, as a 12 year-old JSS 2 minor, Prescious Danjuma have been impregnated by a 14 years old JSS 3 boy, Ezra, and has been forced into marriage by her father.
According to the Executive Director of the NGO, the father of the minor in Akwanga Local government Area of Nasarawa State, has not only stopped the girls' education, but gone ahead to collect the bride price from the boy's parent", Mrs Tulari declared.
"On 2nd May this year, a case was reported of a teenager, Ezra, a 14 years old from Aban Village, a JSS 3 and Precious Danjuma, a 12 years old from Godogodo village in JSS 2, all in Akwanga Local Government Council , that Miss Precious was pregnanted by Ezra and the family demanded the payment of her bride price after which the marriage was conducted", Mrs Tulari added
While appealing to corporate Organizations, individuals and the government to assist her organization to cater for the need of the victims under her, Tulari said even though Violence against women and girls continues to be the most pervasive and pressing human rights issue in the world, attention should be tailored towards the rural communities especially in Akwanga Local government Area where her organisation has been doing a lot to reduce the prevailing situation in the state and beyond.
"It is an abhorrent crime and a public health emergency, with far-reaching consequences for millions of women and girls in every corner of the globe, to be subjected to early marriage or made to face abuse, molestation and humiliation"
"GAMMUN Centre for Care and Development Nigeria is a Rights-based Non-Governmental Organization in Akwanga, Nasarawa State with branches in Taraba and Borno States. We build relevant partnerships to ensure a healthy and just society, work to protect the rights of People with Disabilities; the Elderly; Women and Girls; and to prevent all forms of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence"
She said between February and May this year, the organization recorded more than 8 cases of violence against young girls in the state especially from the Northern Senatorial Zone of the of Nasarawa State. NNL.