Abuja — Sexual abuse on children has become a menace and has continued unabated because of the irgnorance of the society or the shyness of parents to discuss the issue with the children", this was the view of the wife of the Niger state governor, Mrs. Jummai Aliyu Babangida during the launch of the book "How to protect your child from sexual abuse" in Abuja at the weekend.

Mrs. Babangida called for increased awareness on the evil of sexual abuse expecially at the grassroots level so that those involved in the act will stop.

According to her, the best way to stop this evil is to communicate to the children through increased awareness. Adding that people don't like to discuss the issue of rape.

On the punishment for offenders, she said, "The police have been doing their best, but now we are making the issue a priority we have met with the honourable speaker of the house of representatives. And we are doing our best to ensure that victims of this evil are adequately taken care of".

According to the author of the book, Dr. Agwube Ahmadu, sexual abuse is a huge problem which propagates several other problems such as pregnancy and abortion.

She said sexual abuse should be treated on the same level as armed robbery and violence just as it is obtained in developed countries.

Speaking on, she said, "I don't think there is a lot of awareness. I Think there is a lot of shyness in the matter as well as ignorance. People are ashamed to come forward even to prosecute someone that has been involved in the act. They want to treat it as a family matter and keep it quiet because they don't want the family reputation to be damaged".

She therefore called for increased awareness so that people can feel confident to speak on this horrible issue as bad as it is.

She said in an African environment where children are brought up to respect their elders, the children may be ignorant to allow such elders lure them into this horrible act if they are not properly educated.