Save the Children International (SCI) has facilitated the rescue of a 10-year-old girl who suffered various forms of abuse for seven years at the hands of her caregiver in Rigasa, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The incident came to light during a three-day workshop and community projects tour organised by SCI for selected reporters from Katsina and Adamawa states, held over the weekend in Kaduna.
Handed over to her caregiver, one Fatima Mamud, at just three years old, the girl was reportedly subjected to physical assault, starvation, and emotional trauma throughout her stay.
Originally from Wuna Zhide community in Agaie Local Government Area of Niger State, the girl eventually fled her caregiver’s home after enduring another episode of beating and hunger. She was later found wandering the streets in distress.
She was discovered by an SCI team conducting routine child protection monitoring in the Ungwan Makama area of Rigasa under the organisation’s Education Cannot Wait (ECW) campaign.
Speaking to newsmen, an SCI caseworker, Zainab Abdulkarim, said the child was taken into protective custody after being found by the community leader, the Mai Ungwa.
“The girl fled her caregiver’s home after enduring another round of beating and hunger,” Abdulkarim said. “She was found wandering and in distress before being taken into protective custody by the Mai Ungwa.”
Confirming the incident, the Mai Ungwan Hayin Torotoro, Ungwan Makama, Lawal Abdul, described the situation as worrisome, noting that similar cases had been recorded in the area.
“We have seen several such cases in this community. When this particular girl was brought to me, she insisted she did not want to return to her caregiver. I immediately requested that her biological father should come personally to take her home,” he said.
Abdul commended the SCI team for their efforts in rescuing and reuniting children who are victims of abuse or neglect, noting that such interventions have helped reunite many children with their families over the years.
The traditional leader also called for greater vigilance among parents and neighbours to prevent similar incidents, urging them to report suspected cases of abuse or neglect.
Also speaking, the girl’s father, Danladi Usman, expressed deep regret over his daughter’s ordeal, saying he had trusted the caregiver to provide care for her even though she was not her biological mother.
“I thought I was helping my daughter by sending her to the city. I never imagined she was going through such suffering. I thank Save the Children and the ECW campaign for saving her life and reuniting us,” he said.
By Danjuma Michael, Katsina
