Child Abuse: Kano Govt rescued 7-year-old girl from torture

By RAMATU GARBA

Kano State Government says it has rescued a 7-year-old girl (name withheld), maltreated by her adopted mother at Panshekara Quarters of Kumbotso Local Government Area of the state.

Dr Zahra’u Umar, the state’s Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, confirmed the development to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Tuesday in Kano.

Umar said the victim was repeatedly tortured and maltreated by a woman simply identified as Mama Ruqayya.

She noted that the Ministry on August 22 received an report of torture of the child from an NGO, Association of Social Vices Prevention (ASVP).

The Commissioner said the child was beaten, burnt and maltreated by the woman who took her in as house help, as a result she sustained scares and bruises on her body.

“We received report indicating the woman now at large, allegedly abused and inflicted injuries on the 7-year-old orphan.

“Upon receiving information, the Ministry swung into action and rescued the child. The victim was referred to the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano for treatment,” she said.

Umar added that the state government had made arrangements to take care of the child.

The Commissioner reiterated government commitment to end sexual and Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the state.

While calling on the people to report suspected child and other forms of abuse to the appropriate authorities, Umar tasked parents to ensure proper upbringing of their wards.

“We received a report on Aug. 25, indicating a man has abandoned his wife who gave birth to twins, as he could not fend for them.

“Financial predicaments should not be an excuse for one to abandon his family,” she lamented, adding that the Ministry had provided support to the nursing mother and the babies. (NAN)