Going forward, anybody found guilty of abducting a child in the state will face death sentence like a kidnapper under the state Child’s Rights and anti-Terrorism Act.
This position was made known on Sunday by the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, during the 50th birthday celebration of the state’s Commissioner for Special Duties, Emmanuel Enoidem.
“The trauma parents go through in such incident is always heart breaking and assured that every child abductor would be brought to book.
“We have made direct phone numbers available to school children and their parents so that they can call or send text messages and report any molestation.
“I assure them that I will not only punish the teacher in question through dismissal, I will also punish the principal of the school if it comes to my notice that the Principal did not take action to stop the child from being molested. Parents, take care of your wards and ensure that they are not abused and taken into child labour and trafficking,” he stated.
Akpabio used the occasion to advise leaders at various levels to borrow a leaf from Enoidem whom he described as a man with abundant initiative, one who has enriched his cabinet with laudable ideas.
He said, “For some of you who have the chance to be managers of resources for Akwa Ibom State, try and develop initiatives, have it in abundance and then move the state from one point to another.”
