June 10, (THEWILL) – The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has unveiled Nigeria Police Force (NPF) Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), for handling cases involving children.
The SOP developed with support from UNICEF and the European Union (EU), aims to standardise the response of the Nigeria Police Force to cases involving children in contact/conflict with the law.
Speaking at the SOP unveiling ceremony, which was held on Thursday, June 8, at the IGP’s Conference Hall, Force Headquarters, Abuja, Baba said the SOPs would be added to the child protection documents already produced by the force and its partners.
According to the IGP, child abuse can come in different forms even from the parents, who stops their children from going to school or other activities that may affect the child’s life, adding that the SOPs will aide the police in addressing these issues.
On his part, the European Union representative, Ruben Alba, said the union was already addressing issues of women and children and unveiling of the SOPs was an important step towards protecting and securing the children.
She pledged more European Union support for Nigeria.
UNICEF chief child protection officer, Ibrahim Sesay, who spoke on the objectives of the event, said, “Children who come in contact with the Law, whether in police, prosecutors departments, or the judiciary, require child-friendly procedures that are sensitive and responsive to the specific needs and circumstances of children.”
