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
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