The Gombe State Government announced on Monday that it has filed charges against a man in the state who amputated his nephew, Adamu, on the grounds that the 12-year-old stole a phone.
Abubakar Jungudo, Director of Public Prosecutions at the Gombe State Ministry of Justice, told reporters in an interview that the uncle of the amputated boy would face prosecution.
“We are going to prosecute the defendant. We are awaiting the assignment of the case by the Chief Judge of Gombe State. One of the magistrates in Kashere drew my attention to the case, having seen the seriousness of the injury, and it was referred to the Gombe State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps,” the DPP said.
Mwalin Abdu, Vice Chairperson of the Nigerian Bar Association, Gombe chapter, issued a statement on Monday honouring Children’s Day, condemning the case of Adamu, whose two hands were amputated for accused phone theft in the state’s Akko Local Government Area.
Abdu, who also serves as Chairperson of the NBA’s Human Rights Committee, decried the recent incidence of child maltreatment in a press statement headlined ‘Protecting our future: Urgent action needed on child safety in Gombe State.’
She urged the authorities to apply the Child Protection Law to address cases of abuse, emphasising the importance of joint efforts to combat heinous acts against children.
She said, “In 2018, we woke up to the story of young Zubair Abubakar (13 years old), whose arms were amputated because of the abuse by his teacher; just four days ago was another devastating story of a 12-year-old Adamu from Tumu District in the Akko LGA of the same Gombe State, who also lost his arms due to a similar incident with Zubair Abubakar over alleged theft of a phone.
“Even though the office of the Attorney General has taken over the prosecution of the cases, we believe that is not enough, because these two stories are just the tip of the iceberg of the numerous daily-reported and unreported complaints or cases of child abuse in the state, ranging from sexual abuse, child labour, child molestation, child trafficking, and so on.”
While condemning the effects of abuses perpetrated in the state, the NBA vice chair added, “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, transcending mere headlines to expose the harsh realities faced by our most vulnerable members.
“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 the children at risk and their futures uncertain.”
She urged stakeholders to rise to the occasion and put an end to the widespread incidents of child abuse in Gombe State, as shown by the cases of Abubakar and Adamu.
“The time for passive observance has passed; the safeguarding of every child’s well-being demands immediate and resolute action.
“Gombe State must move swiftly to implement and enforce the Child Protection Law, ensuring that those who exploit and harm our children face the full force of justice.
“Robust reporting mechanisms, specialised victim support services, and widespread awareness campaigns are imperative to redress the rampant abuse, exploitation, and trafficking that plague our dear state,” she added.
