The Take It Back Movement, a vocal advocate for social justice, has expressed outrage and demanded justice in response to a child abuse case in Ogun State.
This follows the arrest of Temitope Adetanju, a 25-year-old woman in Ogun State, who allegedly subjected a 12-year-old girl to horrific abuse by inserting a piece of firewood into her private parts.
The 12-year-old victim was accused of stealing items worth N650, leading to the alleged abuse by Temitope Adetanju. This incident occurred in Isewo, Obada Oko, Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State.
According to a statement made available to Newsmen, the victim was accused of stealing biscuits worth N200, Milo beverage worth N150, and fruit juice worth N300.
In the statement, it was made known that the 12-year-old victim suffered brutal physical abuse from her guardian, who alleged that the girl had a history of stealing.
Following the alleged abuse, the Ogun State Police Command took swift action, with the Divisional Police Officer in Obada-Oko promptly detaining Temitope Adetanju for the alleged offense. According to Omolola Odutola, the spokesperson for the state police command, the suspect has been taken into custody pending further investigation and prosecution.
Odutola said,”On 13 June 2024, Temitope Adetanju, aged 25, was seized by the DPO in Obada-Oko, Ogun State, for purportedly inserting a substantial piece of firewood into the genital area of a 12-year-old girl, accusing her of pilfering items valued at N650.”
Odutola added that investigations were ongoing to ensure all aspects of the incident were thoroughly examined.
Reacting to the horrific incident, the Take It Back Movement’s Head of Gender Department, Omolola Pedro, commended the swift response of the police in apprehending the alleged perpetrator. She praised the decisive action of the police in addressing the incident, describing their response as ‘remarkable.
Speaking further, Omolola Pedro expressed her deep distress over the ordeal that the young girl had experienced. She stated that the incident was truly disheartening, and emphasized that the trauma inflicted upon the child must be addressed with utmost care.
“The swift response of the police towards the action is quite remarkable. What has happened to the young girl is disheartening and we cannot but imagine the trauma this must have brought to her.”
Omolola Pedro emphasized the necessity of strong regulatory laws in Nigeria that govern disciplinary measures for children, stating that the absence of such laws leaves children vulnerable to abuses such as the one that had occurred in Ogun State. She added that the Take It Back Movement hopes that the police will continue to pursue justice for the young victim, and that the Movement will remain vigilant in monitoring the situation to ensure that justice is served.
“As a country, we need strong regulatory laws on disciplinary measures for children.
“We hope that the police ensures that justice prevails, as we’d ensure follow-up.”
Stressing further, Omolola Pedro underlined the underlying socio-economic issues at play, stating that poverty is a major factor that plagues the Nigerian people, including its children. She argued that this incident was not an isolated case, but rather symptomatic of a wider problem that the government must address through effective poverty alleviation measures. Pedro called on the government to take the initiative in combating poverty and uplifting the people of Nigeria, thereby preventing incidents of child abuse that can result from the desperation and hardships caused by poverty.
“The reason for the action also goes to show how poverty is dealing with the Nigerian people and children are not left behind. The government must take up the task of taking the people out of hardship.”
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