The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Lagos State chapter, has urged parents to be wary of child abusers and always be vigilant for danger signs.
The association’s Chairperson, Adeola Ekine, told newsmen in Lagos on Wednesday that child abuse in many different forms has become rampant in society.
Ekine, therefore, advised parents to be careful and to monitor the movements of their children and always watch out for signs that may lead to abuse.
She said “parents should be careful as pedophiles and abusers are increasing in the society.
“Pedophiles and perpetrators of sexual abuse are usually unsuspecting close relatives,” Ekine said.
She admonished parents to be friends with their children and watch out for unexplained changes in behavior or personality.
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“Such signs could be becoming withdrawn, being anxious, becoming uncharacteristically aggressive, lacking social skills and having few friends or no friends and poor bond or relationship with parents.
“Parents should have a close relationships and communicate more with their children, such that they are able to speak up and report any case of abuse by ‘would be’ perpetrators,” Ekine added.
The NAWOJ chairperson said that the responsibility is not on mothers alone, “both parents should be conscious about preventing their children from being victims of child abuse or molestation.”
