Onitsha (Nigeria), Sept. 17, MDL – The African Child Rights Marshal (ACRM) has called for a thorough, professional, and child-centered investigation into allegations of the sexual abuse and exploitation of a minor in Onitsha, Anambra State.
The call was contained in a statement issued by Marshal Dr. Juliet Hassana Muoneme, PhD, Nigerian National Commandant of the ACRM, following reports and video footage circulating online concerning the alleged abuse.
The Anambra State Police Command has reportedly confirmed the arrest of a woman in connection with the allegations and the rescue of four children, while investigations into the matter continue.
Dr. Muoneme said the ACRM was concerned about the reported incident and called for decisive measures to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation.
“Child sexual abuse is a crime. Child sexual exploitation is a crime. Child pornography is a crime,” she said in the statement.
She said children must not be treated as commodities or sources of financial gain, stressing that their dignity and safety must be protected.
“A child’s body is not a commodity. A child’s innocence is not content. A child’s vulnerability is not an opportunity for exploitation,” she stated.
Dr. Muoneme said economic hardship, marital circumstances, emotional distress, cultural practices, religious beliefs, or other personal circumstances could not justify the sexual exploitation of a child.
She said allegations involving a parent, guardian, caregiver, or other adult entrusted with a child’s protection were particularly concerning because children should be protected by those responsible for their care.
Digital exploitation
The ACRM National Commandant also expressed concern about the use of digital platforms in the exploitation of children.
She said the creation, recording, distribution, or transmission of sexual material involving children, whether through photographs, videos, livestreams, messaging platforms, or other digital channels, constituted a serious child-protection concern.
“Those who create, procure, facilitate, record, distribute, transmit, sell, purchase, or knowingly participate in sexual material involving children must understand that the digital world is not a lawless world,” she stated.
Dr. Muoneme cautioned that individuals who attempted to conceal criminal activities through anonymous accounts, encrypted platforms, digital wallets, foreign contacts, or international networks should not assume that technology provided immunity from the law.
Call for prosecution
The ACRM called on relevant Nigerian law enforcement and prosecutorial authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the allegations.
It also called for persons whose criminal responsibility was established by sufficient evidence to be prosecuted under applicable Nigerian laws.
The organisation further called for the maximum punishment permitted under Nigerian law for each proven offence upon conviction.
Dr. Muoneme urged authorities and members of the public to ensure that there was no intimidation of witnesses or attempts to settle allegations of child sexual abuse outside the appropriate legal processes.
“A child’s rights do not become negotiable because the alleged offender is an adult,” she said.
Public urged not to circulate material
The ACRM also appealed to members of the public not to redistribute or repost material relating to the alleged abuse circulating online.
It said further circulation of such material could compound the harm suffered by the child and could have legal consequences.
Members of the public were instead urged to report suspected cases of child sexual abuse to the appropriate authorities.
Dr. Muoneme also urged parents, guardians, and caregivers to remain vigilant and pay attention to unexplained changes in children’s behaviour, fear, secrecy, injuries, inappropriate sexual knowledge, and unusual interactions with adults.
“Parenthood is not ownership. Guardianship is not ownership. Being a caregiver does not give anyone the right to violate the body, dignity, or innocence of a child,” she stated.
She also encouraged parents and caregivers to pay attention to children’s online activities and the people communicating with them.
“When something is wrong, do not silence the child. Listen. Believe appropriately. Protect. Report. Seek professional help,” she said.
Message to children
Dr. Muoneme also encouraged children who had experienced abuse not to blame themselves for the actions of perpetrators.
“You are not the crime. You are not responsible for what an adult did to you. Your dignity remains yours. Your future remains yours. Your voice matters,” she stated.
She said the ACRM’s intervention was not intended to target an individual but to reinforce the need for stronger measures to prevent child abuse and exploitation.
The ACRM called for collective responsibility among families, schools, communities, law enforcement agencies, and digital platforms to strengthen child-protection systems.
“Children are not commodities. Children are not content. Children are not instruments of profit. Children are not powerless,” Dr. Muoneme stated.
She reaffirmed the ACRM’s commitment to promoting the protection of children and concluded: “When a child cannot protect himself or herself, society must become that protection.”
