Female children who live with their step-mothers or single parents are usually at high risk of being abused because of the less attention and care they get than those with their biological parents. Those people involved in this criminal act usually have a strategy in drawing the girls by calling them “my wife” or buying sweets, chewing gum, biscuits and other snacks that attract the children.
Recently, I heard a story of how a three-month-old baby was molested. The man was playing with the baby in the compound then suddenly he went inside the room with the baby. When the mum went to carry her baby she saw the baby in a cold blood. Sometimes I wonder what a man will get on a girl that is not matured. However, parents should listen to what their children are saying.
This incident occurred in my area were a girl always complained to her mum that her private part was paining her. As a mother what are you supposed to do? Check on her or ask her what is wrong with her, but the woman ignored her. One day when the mum was bathing her, she saw some white substance and blood on her private part, she asked what happened. The girl replied that it was an uncle who always touched her bum-bum. The woman could have listened to her when she was complaining and know what to do.
Parents, especially mothers, are in the best position to teach their female children about their safety. Be close to them, make them feel they can discuss anything with you and let them know how to protect themselves, let them know protecting them is your priority. Parents should know the people their children associate with. Ask them what they do while playing and listen attentively to what they will say. Know the houses they enter and if possible select houses that you feel your child can enter without worrying yourself.
When I was a little girl my friends and I went to fetch water in my neighbour’s house. While coming out the man called me. When my friends got home my mum asked them of me and they told her the man in the house called me. My mum immediately went to the house, brought me out and gave a thorough beating. She stopped me from fetching water in that house.
Only God knows what he would have done to me without my mum being there at a spot. Mothers should teach their female children that their bodies are meant to be kept secret. Mum and sisters can see your nakedness but uncles or your brothers are not allowed to see your body.
Hajara Mohammed Kini,
Department of mass Communication,
University of Maiduguri
