The SOS Children’s Villages, an NGO, has called for an urgent need to prioritise children’s safety following the stampede at Basorun Islamic High School in Ibadan, that claimed the lives of 35 children.
The National Director, SOS Children’s Villages, Eghosa Erhumwunse, told newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday that the incident which also left some children injured was a sad one.
Erhumwunse said that similar incidents had resulted in 22 fatalities in Anambra and 10 in Abuja.
“As an organisation committed to safeguarding the rights and well-being of children, we find these tragedies unacceptable and avoidable, especially for the children.
“Events intended to celebrate and uplift children must never end in sorrow. This heart-breaking incident emphasises the urgent need to always prioritise the safety and protection of children in all spaces,” he said.
According to Erhumwunse, Secrion one of the Child Rights Act 2003 asserts that the best interests of the child must remain paramount.
He said that Section 11 guarantees every child the right to personal liberty and protection from abuse or harm.
“Section 13 explicitly protects children from all forms of violence, neglect, maltreatment, or exploitation.
“Moreover, Section 14 imposes a duty on parents, guardians, institutions, and authorities to provide a safe and conducive environment for children’s care and protection, failure to do so is tantamount to a criminal offense.
“This is a wake-up call for all of us as a society. It is not enough to create opportunities for children to thrive; we must also ensure that their safety is non-negotiable,” he said.
Erhumwunse said that SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria, was committed to working with the government, civil society, and community leaders to ensure that every child participated in public events without fear of harm.
He said that no parent should ever have to bury their child because of preventable lapses in safety.
He commended the swift response of the state governments, emergency responders, and healthcare providers in addressing the immediate needs of the victims.
He called on all stakeholders, government agencies, event organisers, media partners, and community leaders to implement rigorous safety protocols for organising events involving children.
Erhumwunse also called for venue capacity limits and effective crowd control, and other preventive measures.
He said that there was a need for stricter implementation of the Child Rights Act and all laws that uphold and protect the lives of children, adult and properties.
