The Save the Future of Children Initiative (SAFIN) has said that about 6,000 Nigerian children are in juvenile prisons and detention centres nationwide.

The Executive Director of SAFIN, Mr Olufemi Oyedeji, disclosed this on Thursday in Ilorin, Kwara State, in his presentation on “Child Protection Reintegration Project” at a stakeholders' consultative meeting on “Child Protection Case Management for Effective Service Provision for Highly Vulnerable Children in Kwara”.

He said the number of children in detention was unacceptable and contrary to the Child Rights Act of Nigeria enacted in 2003.

He explained that the act made ample provision for children who were in conflict with the law.

Oyedeji, therefore, cautioned that the children should not be neglected or else the security of the society would be threatened.

He asserted that child protection required a multi-sectoral approach where Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA) must partner to bring about solutions.

(NAN)