Incidences of child rape and forced marriage are rampant in the Plateau state, the Assistant Director Child Welfare in Plateau Ministry of Women Affairs has said at a press briefing on Tuesday in Jos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the press briefing was in preparation for the formal launch of ‘Action Plan on Ending Violence Against Children’ by the state.
The Assistant Director added that the incidences of physical, sexual and emotional violence were also on the high side in the state.
“Child rape, forced and early marriage are very rampant in Plateau.
“We have some instances of incest, where fathers impregnate their daughters, and of some sending their daughters into early marriage.
“Physical violence is also huge in Plateau; you see people using hard objects on children in the name of discipline,” she said.
She said the rationale for launching the action plan on violence was to curb the menace and make the children of the state free from violence.
According to her, Wase and Mangu Local Government areas of the state would be used for the pilot scheme.
She explained that the two local government areas were selected owing to the high rate of violence against children in those localities.
NAN reports that Plateau is the first in the North and fourth in the country to launch the action plan on ending violence against children in the society.
