Avoid These Myths That Lead To Increased Child Abduction Cases

With each passing day, parents struggle to come to terms with the fact that their children are at risk of disappearing.

During school holidays, most parents are forced to come to terms with the potentiality of their young ones’ abductions. Posters and flyers announcing disappeared children are rife in Kenya.

A 2019 report by the National Crime and Research Centre stated Kenya was ranked position 17 out of 19 on the list of nations where child kidnappings are rampant.

Till now, a lot of people hold on to unapplicable beliefs on procedures that should be followed in case your child goes missing.

The missing child Alert via its Twitter account has published some of these myths that we should let go citing that they are not necessary and continue giving room for more cases of children missing.

Some Of These Myths Include,

1. You have to wait for 24 hours to report a child missing
2. You have to report to the police jurisdiction where the child went missing from
3. You have to be family to report
4. An OB number is not a must for missing children’s cases
5. Old missing children’s cold cases are closed
6. You cannot report a missing child again if they have been found before

Here are the Facts

1. Report any case of a missing child immediately – the first 48 hours are very critical in a missing child’s lie.
2. Report to your nearest police station
3. Anyone can report a missing child, family, teacher, friend, or neighbor
4. It is a must to record a missing child case at a police station and get an OB reference number, no matter the assumed circumstance
5. All unsolved missing child cases and investigations remain active until there is an outcome
6. Not every missing child situation is the same. Report again no matter what occurred in the past
7. Do not send money to any callers claiming to have your child. Contact the police for assistance.

Section 13 of The Children’s Act acknowledges the rights of a child to protection from physical and psychological abuse, neglect, and any other form of exploitation including the sale, trafficking, or abduction by a person.