Mrs. Esther Balogun, a child rights activist affiliated with the Jofunmi Loving Heart Foundation, has cautioned children to remain vigilant against sexual predators, many of whom, she noted, are often individuals within their immediate family or close relations.
Speaking during an outreach organized to commemorate Children’s Day in the Eleja Alagbayun community, Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State, Mrs. Balogun highlighted the dangers of remaining silent in the face of abuse, a silence she lamented as deeply rooted in African cultural norms.
"The purpose of this outreach is to equip children with the necessary awareness to recognize and resist inappropriate behavior from pedophiles," she stated.
She continued, “Each individual has parts of their body that are private. These private parts must remain private and should not be touched or exposed regardless of who the person is. Even if the individual is a relative, no one has the right to violate your privacy.”
Mrs. Balogun implored children to report any instance of abuse or inappropriate conduct immediately. “Should anyone attempt to touch or abuse your private parts, you must speak out. Report it to your parents, guardians, teachers, elder siblings, or any trusted adult. Pedophiles often exploit the culture of silence; by speaking up, we can confront and eradicate this menace from our communities,” she concluded.