STORY:
The Ogun State Police Command says it has arrested a 33-year-old woman who allegedly sold her 18-month-old baby for N600,000 to pay a bank loan. The incident occurred at the Sango-Ota area of the State. The police, however, are yet to identify the suspected buyer and recover the child sold.
Source: http://franktalknow.com
SENSES (Child Safeguarding and Protection Principle):
This story throws up the issue of social protection.
The easy thing is to point an accusing finger to the mother, who allegedly sold her 18-month-old daughter.
Well, to take this easy way out is to forget that millions of Nigerians live in ultra poverty and that the presence of government is not felt at all.
Raising a child in any sane country is the responsibility of four institutions, namely, the family, the community, the state, and the international community.
The family is supported by the community and the state in the onereous task of raising children by providing basic amenities like shelter, water, and hygiene, health care, nutrition, education, just to mention a few. The state, in particular, provides employment opportunities and an enabling environment for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises to thrive.
All of the foregoing are absent in Nigeria, and therefore, most primary parents are raising their precious children under difficult circumstances.
STONES(Call to Action):
- We must intensify our efforts in campaigning for Social Protection as part of our commitment to Child Safeguarding and Protection.
- The child, when found, should be given to a close relative, with means to look after her.
- As to the suspected mother she should be subjected to the justice system with rehabilitation as the end in mind. The truth remains that the society prepares the crime and the people commit it.
RN 18042023
Taiwo AKINLAMI 