People buy, sell children like groundnuts in Kaduna State, says commissioner

The Kaduna State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Hafsat Baba, has said people buy and sell children like groundnut in the state. She made this known while addressing newsmen at the state’s Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) council.

According to her, the ministry has so far rescued 37 girls from child traffickers and the state government has concluded arrangement to launch the campaign on ‘Violence Against Children’ today. (Wednesday).

She said: “We are battling with children been sold like items. People buy and sell children like groundnut; I have personally rescued 37 children. A Ghanaian recently brought three children. This is why we need the media in this campaign. I need to say it loud that we cannot allow our children to be sold like groundnuts.”

She noted that the state government was deeply worried about the development and the frequent cases of violence against children, which is why a campaign is being launched to stop the menace.

Speaking on the mechanism put in place to stop violence against children in the state, she said “Governor Nasir El-Rufai is committed and ready to ensure that once the state Assembly pass the Child Rights Act, he will sign it immediately.”

She added that earlier, a group of pharmacists, the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), police, immigration and other stakeholders have formed a child protection network against child trafficking.
 
“We have written to ministry of justice to do their work, as well as the security agencies who will investigate the issues, therefore, we shall continue to follow-up cases and ensure that justice is served, just like the way I told you of Zainab, that we followed that case and make sure that case got to the high court.