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Victor Emeruwa, a communication specialist with a focus on household poverty, has sounded the alarm over the rising cases of child displacement and abandonment in Borno State.
While assessing the devastating impact of recent flooding—caused by poor dam management—that submerged nearly half of Maiduguri, the state capital, Emeruwa implored the government to tackle the mass displacement and neglect of children.
Many of these children, left to fend for themselves, wander the streets in search of food, some even walking barefoot under the harsh sun.
“I saw hundreds of children on the streets as early as 7 a.m., moving in groups or alone, carrying bowls for begging. The situation is dehumanizing,” Emeruwa said, urging the government to take immediate action to protect the children. He demanded the government enforce its Child Rights Law, which was domesticated in January 2022.
Last week, the collapse of a government-managed dam displaced over four million residents. So far, 11 bodies have been recovered, with over 100 people still missing. Many residents remain trapped in collapsed buildings.
The disaster has triggered severe humanitarian and security concerns, especially after a section of the prison holding Boko Haram militants collapsed. Around 250 of these detainees have reportedly escaped.
Conditions at the Bekassi Camp
The Bekassi camp, designated for displaced persons, is overcrowded with people of all ages crammed into unsuitable living conditions. The camp, with its dilapidated buildings, damaged roofs, and crumbling walls, is far from habitable. Overgrown grass raises concerns about insect and reptile infestations. While the camp has adequate security, the poor conditions pose health risks, such as malaria and heat rashes due to overcrowding.
Violation of Child Rights Law
Despite the clear provisions of the Child Rights Act, children as young as four are seen wandering the streets of Maiduguri, even as late as 11 p.m., desperately searching for food. The recent flood has worsened the issue of child abandonment, yet there is little visible effort by the authorities to enforce the law and protect these vulnerable children.
Section 4 of the Child Rights Law, passed by the Borno State Assembly in 2022, guarantees every child the right to survival and development. However, the government’s failure to implement this provision is evident. Section 8 further entitles every child to privacy and family life, while Section 11 protects a child’s dignity by prohibiting sexual exploitation. Yet, in reality, children remain at risk of abuse.
“I haven’t seen any government effort to care for these children. There are so many of them. If you come around 7 p.m. after prayers, you’ll see even the very young ones,” said Saidu Abdulahi, a passerby who acted as an interpreter for the reporter.
Perhaps the most critical aspect of the Child Rights Law is Section 15, which guarantees every child access to free, compulsory, and universal basic education. The law mandates the government to provide such education, while Section 30 explicitly prohibits the use of children for hawking, begging, prostitution, or any other exploitative activities. Yet, the sight of children roaming the streets for alms has become all too common.
