Sexual abuse of minors and vulnerabler adults is becoming rampant in military barracks across the country, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Farouk Yahaya, has said.
He spoke on Tuesday at the 2021 Conference of Nigerian Armed Forces Catholic Chaplains, held in Makurdi, Benue State.
Represented by the Commandant, Nigeria Army School of Military Engineering (NASME), Brigadier General Mark Mamman, Yahaya blamed the scourge on the absence of soldiers at the home fronts, saying they were always away from their families.
“It is worthy to note that the Armed forces are over-stretched in all ramifications, with the various areas of restiveness to cover and manpower to deploy.
“Most of our gallant officers and soldiers spend their year-round in the bushes and frontlines away from their families.
“It is pertinent to note that most of our barracks and formations are gradually being flooded with cases of sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable adults. Thus, your theme for this Combined Conference: “Protection/Safeguarding of Minors and Vulnerable Adults in NA Formations: The Role of the Chaplain,” is important to address the causes and solution to such menace.
“The horrible effect of experiencing abuse and neglect in childhood can lead to adverse outcomes in adulthood. The consequences of experiencing child abuse do vary considerably. For some adults, the effects of child abuse and neglect are chronic and debilitating, which can lead to debased character and behaviour. As such this can create a strong negative hole in the family life of a military personnel,” he said.
He said abuse of minors could lead in some instances to substance abuse problems, which is seriously being experienced currently in the battle against terrorism in the North East.
