By Auwal Mohammed
Gombe (Nigeria) — Nigerian churches under the support of Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN) has launched a campaign on against perpetuation of Violence Against Children in the country.
National President of CCN, Reverend Fubara Fubara-Manuel who was represented by the Gombe State Chairman of the Council, Venerable. Amos Chijioke disclosed this in Gombe northeast Nigeria, while presenting the Council’s reason for embarking on violence against children in Nigeria between September 18 and 24, 2017.
“We regret this as Christians and affirm, rather, that care for these children is no mere addition to our creeds, but an essential dimension to our being and calling as people of God,” he said.
He condemned a situation where extremists in the name of religion use children for suicide missions, use them as forced sex machines and enslave them into forced marriages; or people trafficking on children.
Venerable Chijioke said the state campaign would be pioneered from Balanga and Kwami local government areas before scaling up to others.
He said the world of shameless rape of infants and children, parents’ insufficient arrangements for the girl-child, policies that teaches men a false and ungodly masculinity over women and children, discriminate against women on the bases of gender is no longer tolerable.
“It is in this context that we have come together as Christians to sensitise on the evil of VAC and do all in our power to end it,” posited the CCN President.
The weeklong activities which began with press conference include: “Advocacy visit to community leaders in Kwami LG, workshop for church denominational leaders, rally in Gombe metropolis, dissemination/step-down workshop at Talasse in Balanga LG, dissemination/step-down workshop at Gelengu in Balanga LG and sermon on ending VAC on Sunday.”
CCN comprise of 14 denominations of churches, with seven of those denominations present in Gombe.