As the world prepares to celebrate the International Day of Innocent Children, Victims of Aggression, mothers in Makurdi have appealed for peace in Benue and the country as a whole.

Some women who spoke to journalists on Wednesday in Makurdi observed that aggression against children was a result of unrest in the world.

Agnes Akor said that if people were not displaced from their homes as a result of insecurity and war, no mother would want to release her child for labour.

“The insecurity in the land has caused people to be thrown out of their homes, and they can barely feed themselves.

“So a mother who can not bear to see her children go hungry is forced to give her children out to other people to train for her. In turn, the so-called helpers turn the children entrusted to them into mere slaves, and it’s disheartening.

“As we struggle for peace, I appeal to the government of the day and all stakeholders to strive for a permanent solution to the war and insecurity in the land because it is the women and children that are most hit,” Ms Akor said.

Similarly, Member Nyor said that only peace could end child labour in the country.

According to Ms Nyor, Benue mothers were hard-working women before the raging insecurity displaced them, forcing them to give out their children to strangers.

Ms Nyor sought stiffer punishment for those maltreating children.

“I have seen where children were being abused by some households. Social media are awash with stories of violence against children both in schools and some homes. But I have not seen or heard where the abusers were punished or made to pay for their crimes.

“While governments try to proffer solutions to the insecurities and war, the legislators too should enact laws that will mete out capital punishment to child abusers,” Ms Nyor said.

(NAN)