Stop bombings, Delta children beg N/Delta Avenger

Worried by the renewed bombings of pipelines in the Niger Delta region, Delta State children, Thursday appealed to the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA and other Militant groups to stop further attack on oil facilities in the region.

The children at a forum in Asaba organised to mark this year’s Day of African Child with the theme ‘Conflict and Crisis in Africa: Protecting All Children’s Right’, told members of the NDA to consider the plight of the vulnerable group in the event of a full blown war in the region.

The children from various schools, reviewed the impacts of war on the civilian populace particularly on children in some African countries. Decrying that they don’t want to live as refugees, they said the impact of war could better be imagined than experienced.

“We beg the Niger Delta Avengers to think about the plight of children in conflict situations. We need to see laughter of children but how can be a reality when they are forced to live in refugee camps. We need government to guarantee our rights and welfare,” they stated.

Appealing to prevail on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to prevail on President Muhammadu Buhari to find lasting solutions to the lingering crisis in the region, they urged the Federal government to avoid the war episodes in countries such as Burundi, Somalia, Congo, Sudan among others.

The Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa in his address at the occasion, expressed the commitment of his administration to the protection of the rights of every child in the state as enshrined in the Child Rights Law 2009.

Okowa who was represented by the State Commission for Information, Mr Patrick Ukah, decried situation where children’s rights were being violated.

On her part, the State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Community and Social Development, Rev. Omotsola Williams told parents to continue to inculcate moral values in their children which according to her, African continent is known for in raising their children.

Blaming the conflicts in various African continents on the abandonment of parental roles by parents, families and communities, Omatsola said; “except children are raised with the ideal moral values, the conflicts are bound to continue.

“Few persons who derive personal joy in conflicts come up with wrong ideas and try to propagate it on their fellows; this, at the end result in conflicts”.