A video of an unidentified man who was captured kicking, boxing and hammering a toddler believed to be his nephew has gone viral on the internet.
This rogue parent anticipated to be in his mid-thirties was filmed by a neighbour peeking through her window, as he unleashed terror on the young boy.
In the video, the uncle, a youthful looking man approaches a male toddler believed to be his nephew, pulls his ears and holding a huge stick on his other hand, clobbers, boxes, and kicks the child mercilessly.
In spite of the child’s apologies and wailing, he lifts him up and throws him to the ground, head first, like a sack of potatoes. He then continues raining strokes of the cane indiscriminately on the child’s neck, back and stomach.
It is not until the little boy scampers off amidst screams of terror and pain but is chased down by his uncle. It is not yet known how the violent encounter ends but it’s a clear representation of gross child abuse which is against the law.
Both the toddler, his tormentor ad the person who filmed the video remain unknown, but information circulating on social media suggests that this cold-hearted uncle is a resident of Masanafu. The Child and Family Protection Unit of Police is being implored to intervene in this case and arrest this rogue parent.
A family is meant to be the first line of protection for children, not of violence. According to UNICEF, parents or other caregivers are responsible for building a protective and loving home environment.
As a society, we should protect and respond to neglect or abuse of children so that they can grow, learn and develop to their fullest potential.