OPINION: “Nigeria probably child abuse capital of the world”
David Hundeyin’s opinion…
My general assessment of the African psyche (and specifically Nigeria’s) is that child abuse is the biggest source of behavioral malfunction that manifests itself everywhere you turn around here. Not the abuse itself, which creates traumatised people incapable of independent and rational thinking, but the fact that it is not recognised as abuse by both perpetrators and victims.
Schools, parents, churches, mosques and other symbols of childhood authority are completely invested in the idea that “discipline” involves the use of brutal corporal punishments used in British prisoners of war camps during the Scramble for Africa.
Painful contortions, floggings, repeated personal assault and even sexual assault has somehow become normalised in this culture with the target being defenceless children.
Also by David Hundeyin: Dear Nigerians, “corruption” is NOT the problem, and it NEVER has been!
A child “misbehaves” so you pick up a belt and flog him or her like a domestic beast raised for slaughter.
A teenager engages in something sexual against your will, so you strip her naked and parade her in the street. What this is supposed to achieve is unclear.
Based on what I have seen, where I currently live is probably the child abuse capital of the world.
Child abuse has been casualised in this culture and the millions of people around here behaving very badly are its unknowing victims.
A society of traumatized, bed-wetting children in adult bodies.
Ghastly.
