The
Lagos State Government has said that it is keeping four infants born by
schoolgirls impregnated by their fathers in its custody. The decision,
according to the state government, is to allow the girls “come of age” before
they decide whether to keep the babies.
Director
of Child Development, Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty
Alleviation, Mrs. Alaba Fadairo, said this recently in Lagos.
Fadairo,
spoke on the topic, Sex
and Sexuality, as a guest speaker during a programme, Talents for Master’s Use,
organised by the Redeemed Evangelical Mission, Alimosho.
“Anybody
can sexually abuse you. Your father, his friends, drivers, teachers can abuse
you. I know there are also good fathers. I am only trying to caution our
children.
I have four children who were impregnated by their fathers and they
have put to bed. We have kept the babies apart until the girls are old enough
to decide if they want to keep their babies or not. One fundamental thing we
have discovered is that people close to children constitute a major percentage
of those who abuse children,’’ she said.
Adding
that six cases of child abuse are reported to the ministry every week, Fadairo
urged participants at the event to be wary of people who swear them to secrecy.
“Äbusers
are very friendly with children. Their power is in the ignorance of children.
The abuser knows that you don’t know that he is dangerous. When someone starts
giving you sweets and taking you to solitary places, he or she may be an
abuser. Whoever tells you not to tell your parents about him or her is an
abuser. It could be an uncle or aunty. Run away or shout,’’ she said.
Tags
Society