The Federal Government has responded to a video that went viral, showing a cleric punishing children with a whip in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

In a statement released by Jonathan Eze, the media adviser to the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, the Minister, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, condemned the act. She called it “barbaric, criminal, and a serious breach of the Child Rights Act.”

The Minister stressed that the government will not accept any form of child abuse.

She further warned that anyone responsible, including parents, guardians, or community leaders who support or ignore such acts, will face prosecution under the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act.

The Minister praised the swift response of the Nigeria Police Force, especially the Rivers State Command, and thanked Hajiya Binta Bello, Director-General of NAPTIP, for quickly deploying her team to rescue the children.

She also recognized citizens who recorded and shared the abuse, highlighting their bravery as part of the “See Something, Say Something, We Will Do Something” campaign.

However, the Minister advised that future reports of abuse should be sent directly to the Police, NAPTIP, or other law enforcement agencies to allow fast intervention and protect the victims’ privacy.

The statement confirmed that the rescued children are now in protective custody and are receiving medical care and psychological support, in line with the Child Rights Act, which is implemented across all 36 states in Nigeria.