The Nigeria Police Force has stated that child theft is on the increase and warned parents to be more security conscious in view of this menace and also educated children and youths to be security consciousness.
Speaking to primary and secondary school children in the Adebero Lagos Secretariat Auditorium on the theme, ‘Free Security & Safety Seminar For Children’, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police who was represented by the state Police Public Relations Officer PPRO, Chike Oti, stated that in view of wanton abuse of drugs and unhealthy lifestyle by youths, it was imperative to educate the young ones on the dangers of indulging in unhealthy lifestyles as well as being security conscious in any environment they find themselves.
Oti reeled out a number of useful safety tips including hotlines for rescue 08063299264 and 08065154338 for children and adults to alert the police force when in danger.
“In view of the increase in child theft and cybercrimes which makes school children the victims, never give your personal information to strangers physically or virtually on social media. Never send a picture of yourself to a friend on social media without parental consent.
“You must have heard of the story of a lady, Cynthia Osokogu who was tricked to come to Lagos from Abuja by two strangers on facebook and was drugged and raped to death. In Lagos mortuary, there are a lot of unclaimed corpses. Know that your parents are your best friend to speak anything to on your fears.
“Be careful when somebody offers you something for nothing. Do not send anyone your password or user-id. Yahoo-yahoo business is not a legal business to deal in and youths should never indulge in this,” Oti counseled students.
The Child Safety Education and Protection Initiative (CSEPI’s) vision aims to galvanise a secure and safe society where every child will actualize his or her potential.
A free book on child safety and topics in the radio/TV programs of Security 24/7 by security expert and the convener, Richard Amuwa was given to all the students and teachers at the event. Chief Security Officer of Fidelity Bank PLC, Mr. Peter Okoloh, who lectured on fire prevention and lying low during fire outbreak, stated that Fidelity Bank is a social responsible bank and that it keyed in into this initiative of educating children on safety and bankrolled the printing of 10,000 copies of the book to be given for free. “Smoke kills more than fire itself’, he added.
A representative from Chris Ogunbanjo Foundation, Mrs Tanwa Ashiru, urged students to be express their mind calmly and not react by fighting or pushing when offended.
Speaking on conflict resolution for children, Ashiru noted that it was of importance to resolve conflicts through dialogue and not allow it to dovetail into violence or physical action.
The children safety seminar was attended by more than eight schools with nursery school students and primary and secondary school students both from public and private schools in attendance.