BEFORE now, parents and guardians would bid their children a half-hearted 'goodbye' when they left for school in the early hours of the day. But today I could see a neighbour hug her child tight and mouth a few caring words of caution to her. I have also caught myself asking after the current status of my baby sister whenever she is out of sight for more than a few minutes. We've come to the full realisation that our children are living in a dangerous world we wish we could change.
Horrible things have happened this year and, more horribly, to children. A child died after being raped on her way back from school, Sylvester sustained fatal injuries allegedly at Dowen College, 8 children died mysteriously inside an SUV in Badagry after disappearing between leaving school for home, and now a truck crushed no less than 20 school pupils as they returned from school in Ojodu. We cannot help but fear that there's a killer-demon in our schools. There must be something we can do to remove the bloodsucking fangs of whatever is demanding the blood of innocent schoolchildren.
Children are perhaps the most vulnerable persons in our society, after invalids. Their innocence and inexperience exposes them to innumerable dangers waiting to trap them. We have to keep a watchful eye out for them and never grow weary of giving them useful instructions on how to stay safe. Kids don't possess congenital wisdom, they have to rely on their parents and other adults.
A Yoruba adage says that "it takes a community to raise a child", this adage cannot be truer. The safety and responsibility of a child are primarily resting on the shoulders of the parents, but every member of the community has a stake in the grooming of a child.
The kidnapper can be challenged by concerned adults, the school bully can be disciplined by steadfast teachers and guardians, reckless drivers can be brought to book on roads without pedestrian walkways by road safety corps members, and public safety facilities for school children can be made readily available by local councils or the state government.
From what has transpired so far, it is clear that we have fallen really short of raising and protecting our children as whole communities. We are negligent and not being as dutiful as we ought to be. It is this multifaceted negligence that has allowed our children to die under bullying, kidnappings, sexual abuse, physical abuse, and road accidents. We need to stop this demon for our children to go to school, feeling safe and secure.
All eyes closed, let's pray for Nigeria.
