The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has commended the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi 11, for lending his voice against child marriage.
Executive Secretary of the Commission, Professor Ben Angwe, who made the commendation in Abuja, over the weekend, in a statement marking the Children’s Day, noted that child marriage is one of the easiest ways to abuse a girl child.
Sanusi had at a workshop organised by the Northern Islamic Forum in Kano kicked against marriage of women below the age of 18, arguing that the consequences of child marriage was enormous.
Professor Angwe noted that the position of the Emir is in tandem with the effort of the Commission to protect the rights of the child especially the girl child.
He called all Nigerians to join hands to combat child abuse as it constitutes an affront on our collective future as a people adding that the future of the country is dependent on the psychological orientation of the children.
Professor Angwe pleaded with states yet to pass the Child Rights Act to do so in the interest of our Children and our future.
The Commission he said will not hesitate to deal decisively with anyone who violates the provisions of the Act as it remains one of the veritable instruments of protecting our children from abuse.
He disclosed that the Commission has commenced full scale investigations on the abuse of a 20 months old boy Musa Murtala who was allegedly abused by her step mother in Kano.
The little boy is lying critically ill at the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital, Kano, as result of injuries inflicted on him allegedly by his step mother, he stated.
