Writer Demands Action After Horrific Video Surfaces
Nigerian writer Charles Ogbu has called on the government to declare a state of emergency on child abuse and violence against children. Mr Ogbu made the call in a Facebook post on Monday, July 6, 2026, while reacting to a disturbing video of a woman assaulting a young girl and attempting to cut her throat with a knife.
According to Ogbu, the incident occurred at IBB Estate in Umuahia, Abia State. In the video, which has since gone viral, the young girl—reportedly a maid—is seen shielding her throat from the knife attack while crying and begging the woman to stop.
Ogbu Condemns the Attack and Calls for Harsh Punishment
Ogbu also called for stricter consequences for abusers. “I have said it again and again, our society needs to declare a state of emergency on child abuse and violence against children,” Mr Ogbu wrote. “And offenders deserve nothing but the harshest punishment possible. This is a blight on human civilization. Happened today at IBB Estate, Umuahia.”
The writer’s post was shared on Instagram by blogger Linda Ikeji, drawing widespread condemnation and renewed calls for action against child abuse in Nigeria.
Child Abuse in Nigeria: A Growing Concern
This incident highlights the persistent issue of violence against children, particularly domestic workers, in Nigeria. Activists have long decried the lack of adequate legal protections and enforcement, leaving many children vulnerable to abuse. According to UNICEF, six out of ten children in Nigeria experience some form of violence before the age of 18, with physical abuse being the most common.
Ogbu’s call for a state of emergency echoes demands from various human rights organizations that have urged the government to treat child abuse as a national crisis requiring immediate and coordinated intervention.
