As the world marks Children’s Day today, President Muhammadu Buhari last night in Abuja tasked the security operatives, families, civil society organisations, traditional rulers, and religious bodies to rise up against increasing violence against children.

In his Children’s Day speech made available to journalists late last night, Buhari said the increasing spate of violence against children was unacceptable and that decisive steps would have to be taken to ensure the protection of children in homes, schools, markets and worship centres.

According to him, the Federal Government, in its own effort to protect children from abuse and exploitation, has directed the management of all federal government schools to put in place adequate measures that will guarantee the security of their students.

Buhari advised parents to ensure that they send their children, especially the girl child, to school, observing that girl child education stems the tide of maternal mortality and child marriage and tasked security agents to increase their efforts towards the protection of children.

 

“In our efforts to protect our children from abuse, exploitation and trafficking as well as provide safe, non-violent inclusive and effective learning environment in our schools, this administration has directed the management of all Federal Government Colleges and advised all state owned schools across the country to provide adequate measures of safety and security for their students,” Buhari said.