Child Abuse: Dehumanization of the Human Mind

by Marshall Miebaka
(Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria)

It is imperative to avoid abusing the child as most of the problems of today's world are as a result of child abuse. In recent times when individuals have increased inputs on how well to bring up their children, many are still out there maltreating and abusing their children. Personal observation has brought to fore that if child abuse is not put to a stop, there might never be a better society.

I personally became interested about the worrisome attitude of child abuse, because I was abused by various relations when I was a child due to the early demise of my mother; and to this day I have come to realise the negative effect of such abuses.

I am so touched on a daily basis when I see children of 8, 9 and 10 years of age being sent out to sell bottles of kerosene on their head from 6 pm to 11 pm in the night. I have even had cause to interview some of these children. And what do they have to say: that any day they seize to go out to sell kerosene, there won't be food for them that night and the next day. In some cases they are also sanctioned not to come back to the house until the whole of the kerosene on their head is sold. It is more annoying because in some cases these children are brought from their parents in the rural areas to the urban centres with the pretence of offering them better education only to exploit, abuse and dehumanize the true nature of humans in them. And I tell you what? These are the tomorrow leaders we are talking about. And what kind of humane leadership is bound to manifest from these children? I mean, it can't be anything less than the wicked and sit-tight leadership being experienced in this part of the world (Africa).
I am not even surprise that militancy is paramount in the African continent. Parents, relations and even the government have failed these children. What do expect to get from them as feedbacks? I wish I am opportuned to fashion out an NGO (Non-Government Organization) to properly embark on against this destructive attitude of child labour and abuse.

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