CHILD ABUSE AND ITS MONUMENTAL CONSEQUENCES IN CONTEMPORARY NIGERIA: ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Child abuse which refers to all forms of illicit acts against children has reached alarming rates in modern-day Nigeria. Surprisingly, most of those that are seriously affected have been poor children. Meanwhile, Islam seriously condemned all sorts of abuse towards children. Its norms to the children are love, mercy and compassion as documented in the Qur’ân and Hadîth which are also uniquely practised by the Prophet (S) and his companions. Hence, this paper draws the attention of Nigerian parents and guidance in particular, and the entire world in general to the Islamic stand against child abuse and its monumental consequences as contained in the Sharî‘ah. It also conceptualises child abuse, discusses its causes and effects in Nigeria and highlights systematically the Islamic approach towards ameliorating it. The paper also examines the concept of child abuse, its meaning from the Islamic point of view and scholastically highlights its forms with respect to modern-day Nigeria. In doing these, it employs historical and expository methods in driving home its points. The paper argues that the rate of child abuse in Nigeria is alarming and suggests some urgent and research-based steps to be carried out by the parents, the government and Nigerian citizens in reducing the rate at which children are being abused in modern-day Nigeria. It then concludes by suggesting the application of Maqâsid al-Sharî‘ah as related to the children’s well-being as remedies for preventing child abuse in Nigeria.