Wednesday 20 September 2017

Tweet Chat: Awareness And Solutions To Child Abduction, Missing Kids (Persons) In Nigeria

 Date: 15th September, 2017; Venue: Twittersphere; Time: 3PM; Event: ‘’Locate’’ (www.locate.ng), a crowdsourcing and social entrepreneurial Cause that leverages on innovative technology, social media to create awareness about child abduction, missing kids (persons) and also makes it easy for citizens to report and track missing persons, had a Tweet Chat with Mr. Don Okereke, security analyst, consultant, writer and publisher of www.donokereke.blogspot.com aimed at creating awareness and proffering solutions to the increasing menace of child abduction, missing kids in Nigeria. Below are excerpts from the Twitter Chat between @LocateNigeria Lead Partner, Mr. Ndukwe Ogbogu and Mr. Don Okereke:

1. @DonOkereke can we meet you? #missingkids


1.     I am Don Okereke, security #analyst #consultant #writer, CEO #Holistic #Security #BackgroundChecks Ltd, co-founder #NUAIT #missingkids

2.     #NUAIT = Nigerians Unite Against Insecurity & Terrorism; advocates #security awareness, #Cause against #extremism #terrorism #missingkids


3.     I have an eclectic academic background: 1st degree in Indust. Chemistry, postgraduate modules in #forensic Engr & science #missingkids

4.     Certifications, courses in #security, terrorism studies amongst others. I am also a proud student/graduate of the #UniversityOfHardKnocks

5.     I think we tend to learn more virtues - #humility, #tenacity, resilience, #grit from life, the streets than from school #missingkids

6.     I am an active citizen, #changeagent (not APC type LOL) who is passionate about adding value to my clime, the world. #missingkids


2. @DonOkereke briefly share with us your experiences as a security expert? #missingkids


7.     I am immensely passionate about #security #safety. It's my calling #purpose. Imbibed the zeal when I served in the military #missingkids

8.     I also have a knack for #reading voraciously and #writing which I sync with #advocacy #writing #blogging on #security etc #missingkids


3. @DonOkereke when can we conclude a child or someone is missing? #missingkids

9.     There's really no hard & fast rule. U don't have to wait 24hrs if U reasonably believe the person is indeed #missingkids #missingpersons
10.                         Procrastinating is counter-productive. Recall abducted #ChibokGirls; they would've been rescued if report & action were swift. #missingkids

11.                         Contact @PoliceNG or the #Lagos state emergency numbers 112 or 767 if U are in Lagos to report #missingkids #missingpersons @followlsstf

12.                         The @PoliceNG will ask for description of #missingkids. Provide photos, height, weight, age, any identifying features of the #missingperson

13.                         Know exactly when and where the #missingperson or #missingkids were last seen, what type of clothe s/he wore, languages spoken


4. @DonOkereke Poverty & unemployment as reasons for crime have existed since, why the rise of the kidnapping now more than ever?

14.                         Yes, we’ve always had #poverty, unemployment but last 2yrs have seen #recession & spike in aforesaid factors & desperation #missingkids

15.                         There are no #socialsecurity or #safety nets in #Nigeria hence the level of despair and desperation is high #missingkids #missingpersons

16.                        There's an economic angle to #MissingPersons #missingkids. Some kids are sold by their parents. Kids go missing due to #ritualkillings

17.                         Aside #poverty #unemployment, #Nigeria is also under-policed. Nigeria population = ~180m, @PoliceNG strength = ~380, 000 #missingkids

18.                         Out of 380, 000 policemen, about 100,000 are reportedly attached to private individuals, orgs as guards, orderlies #missingkids

19.                         The implication of this is that there are fewer policemen out there working the beats hence high #crime rate kidnapping #missingkids #missingpersons

20.                        Recall that the @UN recommends #bestpractice police-to-citizens ratio of 1:4. Means #Nigeria needs about 700,000 policemen #missingkids

21.                         #Nigeria's slowpoke judicial system contributes to #missingkids. Suspects await trial for donkey's years. Justice delayed is justice denied

22.                         When there's no quick dispensation of #justice, deterrence, punishment, people will be tempted to commit crimes #missingkids #missingpersons

23.                         Another perspective to #missingkids is get-rich-quick syndrome and decline in societal values. Belief in delayed gratification is scarce


5. @Atleast 4 children gets missing weekly in Lagos alone, why is this trend high?


24.                         The rate of #MissingPersons #missingkids in #Nigeria is ALARMING, seemingly unprecedented. #Missingpersons is not peculiar to #Lagos State

25.                         Red Cross #Nigeria @nrcs_ng @ICRC_Africa @EFillionICRC  says it received report of 10,480 #MissingPersons in #Nigeria #missingkids

26.                         In 2017, over 4,000 #tracingrequests were made 2d @nrcs_ng @ICRC_Africa by families seeking info on the fate of #MissingPersons #missingkids

27.                         The Intl Centre for #Missing & Exploited #Children @ICMEC_official estimates there are 8 million #missingkids globally every year. #ICMEC

28.                         In 2001, about 840,279 people (adults and #children) were reported missing to the @FBI National #Crime Info Center #NCIC #missingkids

29.                         Back 2ur question, #Lagos state is a beehive economic capital of #Nigeria, densely populated, #missingpersons #missingkids are byproducts

30.                         It's not every incident of a #missingperson that has criminal connotation. It's possible that some #missingkids missed their way

31.                         6yr old daughter of my friend got #missing in #Lagos. A #GoodSamaritan saw her. Luckily she knows her dad's phone number #missingkids

32.                         The #GoodSamaritan rang the girl’s father and asked him to come and pick up his daughter #missingkids


6. @DonOkereke What ages are affected the most and more vulnerable to abduction?


33.                         Kids of every age, gender, race are vulnerable to #childabduction. Younger #children are more naïve hence 0-10yrs more @ risk #missingkids

34.                        #ChildAbduction is the offense of wrongfully removing or wrongfully retaining, detaining or concealing a child or baby. #missingkids


35.                         Three types of #childabduction: parental, relative & strangers. Parents can abduct their child e.g during messy divorce #missingkids


7. @DonOkereke are there legislations that will compel stakeholders to respond to case of #missingkids


36.                         Not sure there’s avantgarde nationwide #missingkids or #missingpersons #legislation in #Nigeria. It will help @NGRSenate @chairmanNHRC


37.                        Nigeria should take a cue from the US "Preventing Sex Trafficking & Strengthening Families Act, P.L. 113-183 (H.R. 4980)" #missingkids


8. @DonOkereke At the state level, what measures should be taken to curb kidnapping?

38.                         #Security #education is key. Beside buying security gadgets, govt must ramp up #securityawareness #missingkids @followlsstf @securitytips247


39.                        Installing functional CCTV cameras, lighting in the nook & crannies of the state will enhance #security, curb #kidnapping #missingkids

40.                         CommunityPolicing will curb #crime #KRE #missingkids #missingpersons in #Nigeria @followlsstf @securitytips247 @security1656 @TanwaAshiru



41.                         Quick dispensation of justice, punishment will also discourage #crime #missingkids. Folks who do #crime must do the time. #missingkids


9. @DonOkereke what can parents can do to ensure the safety of their kids?

42.                         First, I advocate rapport between parents & their #children. Kids must feel comfortable to discuss anything with their parents #missingkids


43.                         Parents MUST inculcate basic #security #safety tips into their #children. Kids ought to know their parents phone numbers #missingkids


44.                         #children can be abducted by an insider, someone they know. A couple hired a babysitter via olx, she #kidnapped their 3 kids afterwards



45.                         Parents are encouraged to ensure that rigorous #backgroundchecks are done on prospective domestic staff – nannies, drivers etc #missingkids


46.                         Parents STOP sharing info about #children - pics, names, schools on #SocialMedia #missingkids @followlsstf @securitytips247 @TanwaAshiru



47.                         Teach #children #cybersafety: NEVER trust online ‘pals’ or share info - address etc on #SocialMedia #missingkids @RemiAfon @SafeSchoolsng @ceolsstf


48.                         #Children must be taught NEVER to walk away with #STRANGERS except their parent/guardian. #missingkids @followlsstf @securitytips247



49.                         Adults seldom nid help frm a child. Adult seekg help frm a child is a warning sign. #missingkids @followlsstf @securitytips247 @TanwaAshiru


50.                         Teach #children to say ‘’no’’, be assertive. Undue politeness with strangers can be ‘harmful’#missingkids @securitytips247 @SafeSchoolsng
51.                         Parents MUST never drop their children off alone @ malls, movie theatres, or parks #missingkids @SafeSchoolsng @securitytips247 @comfortekpe


52.                         A kid should YELL: “Stop, Stranger, Leave me!” if a stranger is trying to abduct them #missingkids @securitytips247 @SafeSchoolsng @kidsandsafety



10. @DonOkereke Do you think its time for the introduction of safety and emergency response into the school curriculum in nigeria?

53.                         #Security #safety & #emergency #education are in the new #education curricula in #Nigeria #missingkids @SafeSchoolsng @kidsandsafety



11. @DonOkereke any last words?



54.                        The @UN set aside August 30th yearly to commemorate the International Day of #MissingPersons #missingkids @SafeSchoolsng @kidsandsafety @securitytips247

55.                        #Nigeria needs a #legislation and real-time countrywide #database of #MissingPersons #missingkids  @chairmanNHRC @ChidiOdinkalu @NGRSenate


56.                         Countrywide ratification & domestication of #Nigeria #Childrights act will help #missingkids @chairmanNHRC @ChidiOdinkalu @savechildrenNG



57.                        Aside #ChibokGirls, hundreds of school #children kidnapped by BH from #Damasak & #Borom #Borno #Nigeria are still #missingkids @mausisegun @BBOG_Nigetia @childreninwar @protectingedu @safeschools @vsfnigeria @HelpIDPKids @KintsukuroiNG @ERCIntl @UNDPNigeria @UNICEF_Nigeria @SherrieRussellB @Chanda_Im @Malala

58.                         #Security is a collective responsibility. All hands on deck. See something, say something #missingkids @SafeSchoolsng @kidsandsafety @securitytips247







No comments: