The Kebbi State Government has taken further steps to bolster its efforts in ensuring total protection of the rights of the child against any forms of abuse.
This followed the unfortunate incident that occurred in the Badariya area of the state capital, Birnin Kebbi, where a teenage boy, Jibril Aliyu, was brutally abused, starved and chained for two years, together with animals, by his father and foster mothers, without proper shelter.
The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Hassan Shalla, stated this in Birnin Kebbi, Wednesday, shortly after meeting with the Chairmen of the 21 LGAs of the state.
The meeting was also attended by Directors of Social, CBOs and NGOs, at the instance of the Secretary to the State Government, Babale Umar Yauri, Special Adviser to the Governor on Women and Social Development, Hajiya Zarau Wali, Permanent Secretary Ministry for Women and Social Development, Hajiya Aishatu Maikurata .
According to the Chairman, following the unfortunate incident of the teenage Jibril Aliyu that was chained by his parents, the Kebbi State Government, under the leadership of Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, has directed all social Welfare Officers from the state to the local government levels, to critically analyse the situation, with a view to profering lasting solution to the problem.
He averred: ” The Government is not happy about Jibril’s case, as such, has directed that, all social welfare officers, from the state down to the local governments, to brainstorm on the problem of our social system.
‘ Why should such an obnoxious problem happened, over a long period of time and it went unnoticed.”
Shalla stated further that, the outcome of the extensive meeting has recommended the strengthening of the Departments of Social Welfare and Health, to be able to handle such unpalatable cases effectively.
He further called on the local government councils to go back and make sure all the departments were performing their functions effectively.
Shalla assured them that, all the resolutions reached at the meeting would be forwarded to the governor, for prompt action .
He also promised that, the Ministry will join hands with traditional leaders to make sure that, there would be no recurrence of Jibril”s case again, within the community.
Earlier, during the meeting, CBSs / NGOs, as well as a cross section of council Chairmen and Directors of social departments made a number of useful recommendations and suggestions, to avert future occurrence.
Nasiru Karofi, who is the Resource Person and Team Leader of CBOs/ NGOs, averred that , the society generally needs to wake up to its responsibility and be its brothers’ keeper.
He said,” there is the need for proper orientation of people to be concerned with what is happening in their respective communities and that, social department officers be proactive in dealing with social issues.”
He equally appealed to the state government to strengthen the Ministry for Women and Social Development.
On his part, the Director, Birnin Kebbi Local Government, Zayyanu Gado, opined that the social welfare department be more funded and strengthened.
