Mr Ali Alola-Alfinti, the Public Relations Officer of NHRC in Gombe, expressed these concerns during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday.
Alola-Alfinti emphasised that the recorded cases of child abandonment and other forms of child abuse in the state have reached alarming levels. According to his statement, from January to June 2023, the NHRC received a total of 130 cases of human rights violations.
Of these, 48 cases were related to child abandonment, accounting for 36.9 per cent of the reported violations within the six-month period.
The significant number of child abandonment cases has become a pressing issue that requires immediate attention from all stakeholders in the state. Alola-Alfinti stressed that child abandonment constitutes a violation of human rights, exposing children to vulnerability and uncertainty.
The main contributing factors to the problem appear to be poverty and the lack of commitment and care from fathers. Alola-Alfinti noted that abandoning children and leaving them without proper care and support is not in line with the responsibilities of parenthood.
He urged parents to recognise their duty to provide for their children's needs and ensure their welfare.
One key challenge identified by the NHRC is that many parents are not fully aware of the rights enshrined in the constitution for children. These rights encompass access to education, well-being, and general welfare.
To address this issue, the commission has undertaken a sensitisation campaign aimed at educating key stakeholders about the dangers and consequences of child abandonment.
Alola-Alfinti called on all stakeholders, including community leaders, government agencies, and non-governmental organisations, to intensify sensitisation efforts to discourage child abandonment.
He emphasised that this trend not only infringes on children's rights but also has profound psychological impacts on them.
The NHRC's concerns highlight the critical need for comprehensive and collaborative efforts to address child abandonment in Gombe state.
Stakeholders must work together to ensure that children are provided with the necessary care, support, and protection they deserve under the law.