By Angela Atabo
SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria has raised concern over the rising cases of abductions of children in Nigeria.
Mr Eghosa Erhumwunse, National Director SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria,made this known in a statement on Monday as the world observed the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
“SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria is deeply concerned about the growing insecurity and targeted abductions of girls and vulnerable children across the country.
“The safety of Nigerian girls, especially those without parental care, is facing a serious threat. What started as a crisis has now turned into a national emergency. Streets and schools are no longer safe.
“The digital space, which should provide learning and connection, has become a platform for exploitation, abuse, and fear.”
Erhumwunse explained that for over a decade, Nigeria has seen a troubling increase in school and community abductions.
He revealed that more than 1,680 children have been forcibly taken, and recent incidents bring that number close to 2,500.
“Each abduction is not only a crime; it shows the failure of our child protection systems.
“It reminds us that the nation’s youngest and most vulnerable children are increasingly at risk. For those lacking stable parental care, the danger is even greater.
“They are less protected, less sought after, less heard, and too often forgotten. Such attacks harm families, disrupt education, and strip children of safety, continuity, and hope,”he said.
According to Erhumwunse, physical violence is just one part of this escalating crisis.
He said that Nigeria was now faced with another major issue: digital violence.
He noted that recent research revealed that 68.9 million Nigerians, nearly half of the country’s active internet users, suffer online harm, including cyberbullying, impersonation, exploitation, and abuse.
“Alarmingly, 58 percent of these harms mainly target women and girls. Nigeria’s ranking as the fifth-highest cybercrime hotspot worldwide highlights how serious this problem is.
“Behind each manipulated image, hateful comment, threat, or non-consensual content is a real person, often a girl, whose dignity, identity, and mental well-being are violated.”
Erhumwunse said that SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria firmly believed that digital violence is real violence, and abduction is not an isolated crime it shows deeper failures in child protection.
He said as a child-centered organisation with decades of experience supporting those at risk of losing parental care,SOS Children’s Villages therefore,called for immediate, coordinated, and unwavering national actions.
He said this should include the full enforcement of the Child Rights Law, the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, and the newly launched Alternative Care Guidelines must happen in every state.
He said that digital violence needs to be officially recognised and included in national security, protection, and gender-based violence reporting systems.
He added that schools should be secured as safe places for learning and online spaces needed regulation and monitoring with real accountability.
He said that survivors should be protected, and perpetrators should face justice.
“We urge the Federal and State Governments to declare the protection of women and vulnerable children a national security priority.
“We ask law enforcement agencies to pursue and prosecute abductors and digital predators without delay and we call on legislators to fix legal gaps that allow technology-facilitated violence.”
Erhumwunse also called on technology companies to take responsibility for the harm happening on their platforms and prioritise child safety over profits.
He further urged religious, traditional, and community leaders to break the culture of silence and advocate for every child’s rights.
“We encourage all Nigerians — parents, teachers, neighbors, and citizens — to step up as protectors, reporters, and advocates, not bystanders,”he said.(NAN)