The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested two Islamic clerics in Owo, Ondo State, over the alleged maltreatment of two minors under their supervision.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the NSCDC Public Relations Officer in Ondo State, Daniel Aidamenbor, identified the suspects as Adebodun Muideen, 30, of Al-Balaagul-Mubeen Arabic and Islamic Centre, and Oladejo Musiliu, 35, of Abdullah Arabic and Islamic Centre.
Aidamenbor said the arrests followed a report by a child-rights advocacy group, the Kids and Teens Resource Centre. The case was brought to light on Wednesday after a class teacher reportedly noticed injuries on the pupils and alerted the organisation.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the children, whose parents live in Osun State, were sent to Owo to combine Qur’anic education with conventional schooling. The situation allegedly escalated when one of the pupils returned home with a mobile phone and could not account for how it was obtained. During questioning, another pupil was implicated, after which the clerics were accused of subjecting both children to unlawful punishment.
According to the NSCDC spokesperson, the incident constitutes a clear violation of the Child Rights Act and the Ondo State Child Protection Law. He added that the suspects have reportedly made confessional statements and will be charged to court for assault and child abuse.
Aidamenbor warned religious institutions, parents, and guardians against all forms of unlawful punishment of children, stressing that violence against minors is a criminal offence under Nigerian law, regardless of the circumstances.
He also commended the swift intervention of the Kids and Teens Resource Centre and urged members of the public to promptly report suspected cases of child abuse to relevant security agencies.
