The Gombe State Government announced on Monday that it has filed charges against a man who amputated both hands of his 12-year-old nephew, identified only as Adamu, following allegations that the minor stole a phone.
Abubakar Jungudo, the Director of Public Prosecutions in the Gombe State Ministry of Justice, confirmed the prosecution to newsmen.
“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,” Jungudo stated.
This announcement came on the heels of a statement released by the Vice Chairperson of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Gombe, Mwalin Abdu, in commemoration of Children’s Day.
Abdu condemned the amputation of Adamu’s hands over an alleged phone theft in the Akko Local Government Area and pointed out the urgent need for child protection in Gombe State.
In her statement titled ‘Protecting our future: Urgent action needed on child protection in Gombe State,’ Abdu, who also chairs the Human Rights Committee of the NBA, decried the increasing incidents of child abuse.
She called for the enforcement of the Child Protection Law to address these abuses, stating the necessity of concerted efforts to combat such heinous acts against minors.
“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.
She further lamented that despite the Attorney General’s office taking over the prosecution, many cases of child abuse remain unaddressed, ranging from sexual abuse, child labour, molestation, and trafficking.
She said, “The heartbreaking tales of young victims like Zubair Abubakar and Adamu from Gombe State points to 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.”
Abdu called on stakeholders to take immediate and resolute action to safeguard children’s well-being, urging Gombe State to implement and enforce the Child Protection Law swiftly.
She stated the importance of robust reporting mechanisms, specialized victim support services, and widespread awareness campaigns to address the rampant abuse, exploitation, and trafficking in the state.
“The time for passive observance has passed. The safeguarding of every child’s well-being demands immediate and resolute action. Gombe State must ensure that those who exploit and harm our children face the full force of justice,” she concluded.