Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
In a development that has drawn national attention to issues of child protection and religious discipline, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) announced the arrest of two Islamic clerics in Owo town, Ondo State, over allegations of brutalising minors entrusted to their care for Qur’anic instruction. The arrests highlight growing concerns over unlawful disciplinary practices and the enforcement of child rights protections in educational and religious settings.
NSCDC operatives detained the suspects on Thursday following a formal complaint from a child rights advocacy group after multiple injuries were observed on the bodies of two young boys under their supervision. The arrests were confirmed by Daniel Aidamenbor, spokesperson for the NSCDC’s Ondo State Command, who said the case was brought to light on Wednesday when a class teacher reported the matter to the Kids and Teens Resource Centre after noticing the children’s injuries. The teacher’s report triggered the advocacy group’s involvement and subsequent engagement with security authorities.
Identified as Adebodun Muideen, 30, head of Al‑Balaagul‑Mubeen Arabic and Islamic Centre, and Oladejo Musiliu, 35, of Abdullah Arabic and Islamic Centre, the clerics were taken into custody on allegations they subjected the minors to excessive and unlawful physical punishment, a violation of both the national Child Rights Act and the Ondo State Child Protection Law.
Preliminary details from the NSCDC’s investigation indicate that the parents of the victims, who reside in neighbouring Osun State, had placed their sons in Owo for Qur’anic education alongside conventional schooling. The probe reportedly revealed that trouble began when one of the boys returned home with a mobile phone he could not satisfactorily account for, prompting questioning of both children. Subsequently, according to statements attributed to the security authorities, the clerics allegedly assaulted the boys with a heated cutlass on their backs and buttocks in an attempt to discipline them, resulting in serious wounds.
The NSCDC described these actions as unlawful and inconsistent with acceptable standards of care or discipline, stressing that no individual or institution is exempt from statutory protections afforded to children. “The acts constitute clear violations,” said command representatives, asserting that confessions were obtained during interrogation and that the clerics will face prosecution on charges related to assault and child abuse.
Children’s rights activists and legal experts have long called for stricter enforcement of statutory protections to prevent violence against minors, particularly in informal educational or religious environments where disciplinary excesses tend to go unreported. Under Nigerian law, the Child Rights Act prohibits physical and psychological abuse of children in all settings, including homes, schools, and religious institutions. Several state laws, including Ondo’s child protection statutes, impose additional obligations on caregivers to safeguard the welfare and dignity of minors.
In response to the arrest, the State Commandant of the NSCDC in Ondo, Oluyemi Joshua Ibiloye, urged religious institutions, parents, and guardians to adhere strictly to lawful disciplinary practices and respect children’s rights. He emphasized that unlawful violence against minors carries significant legal consequences and underscored the role of the public in reporting abuse or suspicious conduct to security and child protection agencies.
The situation has sparked public discourse on the responsibilities of religious educators and the balance between cultural practices and legal obligations. Nigeria’s diverse religious landscape includes numerous informal Qur’anic schools and other faith‑based learning environments where children often spend significant time outside the conventional school system. While these institutions provide vital educational and spiritual instruction, experts warn that a lack of oversight and training for teachers can create opportunities for abuse and neglect.
Child rights organisations have welcomed the NSCDC’s swift action but are calling for broader reforms, including mandatory safeguarding training for all individuals responsible for the care of minors, more robust monitoring mechanisms, and community education on legal disciplinary limits. Advocacy groups also urge authorities to ensure transparent legal proceedings and appropriate support services for the victims, including psychological counselling and medical care.
Legal analysts note that the arrests send a message to communities across Nigeria about the seriousness with which authorities view violations of child protection laws. “Discipline must never cross into abuse,” said one rights advocate. “There are clear legal frameworks that govern how children must be treated, and these apply in every context. Where violations occur, accountability must follow.”
The two clerics are expected to be formally arraigned in an Ondo court once investigative processes are complete. Their prosecution will test the enforcement of child protection statutes in religious contexts and could shape future policy responses aimed at safeguarding vulnerable children in similar settings.
As the case proceeds, community leaders in Owo and beyond are being urged to reflect on accepted norms of discipline and to prioritise the physical and psychological wellbeing of children. The outcome of this legal process may influence broader national conversations about child rights, education, and the roles of religious and educational institutions in modern Nigerian society.
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