The Abuja Moms Foundation has advised law enforcement agencies against secret settlement of child molestation cases, to deter perpetrators from such crime.

The founder of the organisation, Happiness Ani, gave the advice on Saturday in Abuja, during a road-walk to create awareness against child molestation.

Mrs Ani, who was once a victim, attributed increase in molestation cases in Nigeria to wrong handling of the crimes by relevant authorities and stakeholders, especially parents and guardians.

“Often times, parents are made to keep quiet. Parents are cajoled into thinking it is okay to keep quiet when a child is molested.

“The walk is to create awareness against child molestation, to let mothers, fathers to speak up against child molestation and to fight against when a child is molested to make sure that the victims get justice.

“I was molested at age 10 by a man of over 40 years old, who molested me when I was in JSS 1, so I know how I felt.

“So in this walk, we are trying to make the world know that this crime still happens,” she said.

The AMF founder, therefore, advised the parents, members of the public and law enforcement agents in particular, to stop settling such cases secretly.

“The aim of the walk is just to sensitise people, especially people in the law enforcement agencies to allow parents speak against this.

“This is because most times we have cases where it is people in the force that will tell the mother to forget about it, and then saying we have settled it.

“We don’t want it settled that way. Please stop advising people to settle such issue secretly because when they settle, these perpetrators will move on to do the worst.

“Whether a child is molested by her parents or his parents let the law take full course,” she advised.

(NAN)