The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has revealed a distressing trend of paternal abandonment in Gombe State, with a staggering 106 cases reported in 2023. This revelation was made by Ali Alola-Alfinti, the Public Relations Officer of the NHRC Gombe State office, during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria. He expressed deep concern over the escalating number of children being deserted by their fathers in the state, emphasizing the detrimental impact on the children’s well-being.
Alola-Alfinti disclosed that out of the 280 complaints addressed by the commission in 2023, 106 were related to paternal abandonment, constituting 37.9% of the total cases handled. The officer explained paternal abandonment as the act of a father shirking his responsibilities towards his children, resulting in their abandonment and subsequent neglect. He stressed that this neglect can have profound psychological, physical, and emotional implications for the children, especially when basic needs such as food and care are withheld.
Economic hardship was identified as a significant factor driving this concerning behavior, with many fathers attributing their actions to their financial circumstances. Alola-Alfinti underscored that such conduct violates the rights of the child to proper care and sustenance, asserting that children have inherent rights to be supported and nurtured by their parents.
Highlighting the severe repercussions of child abandonment, Alola-Alfinti cautioned that deserted children are left vulnerable, exposed to untold hardships, and deprived of a stable upbringing. Furthermore, he emphasized that the long-term implications of widespread child abandonment could profoundly impact society as a whole, necessitating concerted efforts from all stakeholders to address this pressing issue.
In response to this crisis, the NHRC has intensified advocacy efforts in collaboration with grassroots stakeholders to underscore the paramount importance of parental responsibility. The commission is fervently advocating for a collective approach to combat this menace and safeguard the rights of the vulnerable children in Gombe State.
This alarming expose by the NHRC serves as a clarion call for immediate intervention and concerted action to counter the pervasive issue of child abandonment, urging all segments of society to rally together to provide a nurturing environment for the young generation.
