As the world marks the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria has raised serious concerns over the growing insecurity and targeted abductions of girls and vulnerable children across the country.
In a statement titled “Nowhere Is Safe,” the organisation said insecurity has escathe organisation said insecurity across schools, communities and online spaces has become a national emergency, especially for children without parental care.
It noted that more than 1,680 children have been abducted in the past decade, with recent incidents pushing the figure close to 2,500. The organisation described the trend as a failure of the country’s child protection systems.
It added that the digital space, which should serve as a safe platform for learning, has become a major source of exploitation. Citing recent findings, the group said about 68.9 million Nigerians have experienced online harm, with women and girls making up 58 per cent of the victims.
SOS Children’s Villages said the combination of physical abductions and digital exploitation has placed children without parental care at greater risk, exposing them to grooming, identity theft and digital sexual abuse.
The organisation called for the full enforcement of the Child Rights Law, the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act and the Alternative Care Guidelines across all states.
It also advocated the recognition of digital violence within national security and gender-based reporting systems, improved school security, stricter regulation of online platforms, protection for survivors and prosecution of offenders.
It urged federal and state governments to prioritise the protection of women and vulnerable children as a national security issue. It also called on law enforcement agencies to pursue abductors and digital predators, and on lawmakers to address legal gaps enabling technology-facilitated violence.
The organisation further appealed to technology companies, as well as religious and traditional leaders, to take stronger roles in promoting child safety.
National Director of SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria, Mr. Eghosa Erhumwunse, said the crisis demands urgent action, noting that failure to protect children threatens the nation’s security and development.
He said the organisation remains committed to advocacy and child protection, adding that no child should be denied the right to live, learn and dream in safety.