* 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 cried out over increased cases and called for immediate government intervention to stem the astronomical rise in such cases in the state.
The Executive Director of the organization, Blessing Tulari, said in Lafia, that her organization was overwhelmed attending to cases of child abuse, molestation, forceful and early marriages, among other issues.
"The situation has reached an alarming proportion as a 12 year old JSS 2 minor, Prescious Danjuma, has 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 boys parent", Mrs Tulari declared.
She also stated that, "On 2nd May this year, a case was reported of a teenager, Ezra, 14 years-old from Aban Village, a JSS 3 and Precious Danjuma, 12 years old from Godogodo village in JSS 2 all in Akwanga Local Government Council that Miss Precious was pregnant 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 needs 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 directed towards the rural communities, especially in Akwanga Local government Area where her organisation has been doing a lot to reduce the prevailling 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, 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, 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.
