By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The Anambra State Police Command has cautioned parents, particularly young mothers, against allowing financial hardship, social pressure or the pursuit of quick wealth to expose their children to exploitation and other forms of abuse.
The Command gave the warning in a public advisory issued on Friday by its Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, following the ongoing investigation into a recent child exploitation case in Onitsha, involving a 36-year-old woman who was reportedly arrested while four children were rescued from her custody.
According to the police, the incident has again brought to the fore the need for parents and guardians to remain vigilant about the circumstances in which their children are placed, especially when such arrangements are linked to promises of financial gain or other benefits.
The Command acknowledged that raising children can be difficult, particularly for young or single mothers facing economic and social challenges, but stressed that such difficulties should not lead parents into arrangements that could put their children at risk of exploitation, sexual abuse, trafficking, pornography or other forms of harm.
It urged mothers and other parents experiencing financial difficulties to seek legitimate sources of livelihood and appropriate support instead of resorting to arrangements that could compromise the safety and dignity of their children.
The police further warned against what it described as the “get-rich-quick syndrome,” stressing that a child’s safety should never be exchanged for financial survival.
The Command therefore called on parents to make the protection of their children a priority, urging them to reject exploitative arrangements and pursue legitimate means of livelihood.
“Protect the child. Reject exploitation. Reject get-rich-quick schemes. Choose legitimate livelihood,” the Command advised.
Ikenga said the advisory was issued as part of the Command’s broader concern for the protection of children and the prevention of circumstances that could expose them to abuse or exploitation.
