Yobe moves to set up child protection commission with power to prosecute
- Yobe's attorney general says the state plans a Child Protection Commission to investigate abuse and refer cases for prosecution.
- Abubakar Bukar Kagu said the current system relies on one desk officer and a few committees, which he called inadequate.
- The Ministry of Justice will draft a proposal for Governor Mai Mala Buni; the commission is not yet approved.
The Yobe State Government is working on plans for a Child Protection Commission that would receive complaints of child abuse, summon people, investigate and refer cases for prosecution, the state's Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Abubakar Bukar Kagu, has said.
Kagu announced the plan in a statement on Sunday. The commission is still only a proposal: the Ministry of Justice has been directed to prepare a document for Governor Mai Mala Buni to consider.
For ordinary families in Yobe, the plan points to a single body dedicated to children's welfare, rather than the current arrangement. Kagu described that arrangement as inadequate, saying child protection is largely handled by one desk officer in a ministry, alongside a few committees.
What the commission would do
According to Kagu, the proposed body would have quasi-judicial powers. That means it could receive complaints, summon individuals, hold inquiries, investigate reports and refer matters for prosecution, as well as make recommendations to relevant authorities, including the State Assembly.
He said it would have its own budget and personnel so it can focus fully on children's welfare and protection.
The idea came out of talks with justice sector stakeholders, including the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), the Law Officers Association and other civil society groups, where concerns about gaps in child protection were raised.
Kagu said the plan matters especially because years of insurgency in Yobe have left many children vulnerable. "Years of insurgency have compounded these social challenges, especially for children," he said, adding that it was time for a new and more robust framework for their protection.
He also said the state already has a legal foundation: Governor Buni signed the Yobe State Child Protection Law 2022 and the Yobe State Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law 2022.
The attorney general said the government wants violators of children's rights to face the full weight of the law.
What happens next
The Ministry of Justice is expected to draft the proposal and present it to the governor. Only after that would the commission move closer to becoming a reality. No timeline has been given, and no date has been set for when the proposal will be ready.
