Child assaulters to face the Law | Daily Times Nigeria

Mrs. Godrick was arrested last month following a petition to the police by the school authorities at Ifunnanya's school. The school had noted repeated cases of brutality by her guardian

As a matter of great urgency, Nigeria MUST emulate legislation adopted by Ghana more than a half-century ago, which FORBIDS entirely ALL forms of corporal punishment and torture against children, both at home and in schools.  Ghana boasts one of the most highly-regarded educational systems in the world, steeped in the finest academic traditions right through from the primary to tertiary levels, which graduate some of West Africa's most brilliant degreed professionals, in all disciplines. 

Ghana's sterling combination of academic success and human rights observance is VERY worthy of emulation.  It is high time that Nigeria CRIMINALIZES the beating of children in ALL domestic and academic settings, with severe legal penalties stipulated for those who assume a divine "right" to commit felony assault, regardless of the victim's age.     Like most nations of the civilized world, Ghana has embraced that most fundamental human right for her children - the right to live without fear of state-sanctioned assault, be that at home or in the classroom.  It is thus NO coincidence that Ghana ranks amongst the most peaceful, orderly and quietly productive nations on Africa's Atlantic seaboard. 

The cumulative body of scientifically gathered evidence, produced by studies focusing on the psychological and medical consequences of beating children by parents or teachers, identifies numerous long-term NEGATIVE consequences of beating children, ranging from severe, debilitating injury, disfigurement or paralysis, to degraded academic performance and schoolyard violence, followed by persistent anti-social behavior years later in life.  There are in fact NO benefits attainable to ANY regime that involves the beating, caning, whipping or torture of human beings, regardless of the setting, and,  any nation with aspirations towards the designation of "civilized" MUST join those enlightened jurisdictions on planet Earth where all physical assaults are classified as criminal offences, with NO exceptions.

Please let them start from all Government heads who maltreat their 'houseboys' and 'housegirls' and those who marry thirteen year old girls.

That will send out the right message