Barely a week after one Mrs Chinyere Rejoice Raymond was arrested by the police in Onitsha, Anambra State, for alleged abduction, torture and killing of children, school children in the state have embarked on a peaceful demonstration demanding a thorough investigation into the activities of the suspect.
The school children in their various school uniforms, carrying placards, marched through the streets chanting ‘We want justice’.
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The spokesperson for the students, Miss Nkiruka Orji, said many Nigerian children were being maltreated in various places.
She urged the government to protect children from abuse while calling for thorough investigation and justice in the Raymond case.
“We want fair treatment of Nigerian children. We don’t want Nigerian children to be tortured by the adults, we need protection,” she said.
The protesting student were accompanied by members of the Owners of Private Schools Association of Nigeria and the Human Rights Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association, Onitsha branch.
The protesters, who travelled to Awka from Onitsha to register their complaint, headed to the office of Commissioner of Police.
The National President of OPSAN, Uzochukwu Solomon Nwanonyuo, said the children decided to embark on the demonstration to ensure that the police carry out a thorough investigation into the activities of Chinyere Rejoice Raymond.
He said the protest was part of the measures to ensure that the matter was not swept under the carpet.
Nwanonyuo recalled that the suspect, who is currently in police custody at the State CID, Awka, was arrested with four kids seriously battered.
The secretary of Onitsha NBA Human Rights Committee, Barr. Tony Iheanacho, told the Commissioner of Police, Monday Kuryas, who was represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, in-charge of Finance and Administration, Simon Akpanudom, that they wanted the police to quickly act on the matter so as to deter others.
The CP told the protesters that the command was determined to stem the tide of violence against children, noting that the recent arrest of a syndicate of child abusers from the 33 Division was receiving attention.
He also urged parents to watch over their children and know their whereabouts at all times.
The CP also assured the students that the investigation would be carried out by the police, after which the suspect would be prosecuted.
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