MISSING KIDS
■ Communicate, parents told ■ Top cop rejects kidnap claims
Police Commissioner Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho has rejected claims that children who have been reported missing are because of a kidnapping racket. Brigadier-General Qiliho said the high number of children reported missing is linked to the lack of communication.
“If there was a kidnapping racket or anything of that nature happening with regards to the number of cases involving children, we would have done our part in letting the public know,” Brigadier-General Qiliho said.
“The high number of children reported missing is linked to the lack of communication which we emphasise must be improved by all parties involved.
“Those reported missing are either found at a friend’s or relative’s place and had simply failed to inform a parent and guardian of their whereabouts.
“In cases where children have been found with their boyfriend or girlfriend, Police will look into whether a criminal offence has been committed whereby all necessary investigative processes and procedures will be followed.
Brigadier-General Qiliho is urging families to have clear communication channels with everyone at home.
“We also call on parents and guardians to be aware of who their children are spending their time with,” he said.
“In some cases where children have been found staying at a friend or relatives place, we urge them to liaise with the child’s parents as a precaution in case they are not aware of the plans made by their children.
“Some children run away from home because of personal issues and we do urge parents and guardians to be mindful of their children’s behaviour and ensure they have a safe space to share their problems.”
Most of the cases of missing persons reported to Police recently involve teenagers. Concern has heightened over the sharp surge in numbers prompting all kinds of conspiracy theories about the probable causes from kidnapping to human trafficking.
None of them is true. These are young people who left home for various reasons without the knowledge or permission of their parents or guardians.
Because their disappearance had caught their minders by surprise their families had reported them missing to Police.
The Police then put out missing person notices to the public to help in their investigations.
In one case two teenage girls left their separate homes without telling anyone to spend some time together before they were found and returned to their respective homes.
In other cases where it involved a female and a male, the relationship may be mutual and consensual.
It only borders on criminal when a partner is underage and the other is an adult or 18 years and over.
Whatever the circumstances, the underlying theme here is the disappearing act.
It is normal to some families because it’s happened before and they do not report it to the Police.
But it is not normal to others who are experiencing it for the first time.
Whichever group they belong to it is symptomatic of the parenting challenges that families face.
It must be established at the very outset that parents/guardians are legally responsible for their children below 18.
This means they need to be aware or know of their children’s whereabouts daily.
Poor or a total lack of communication between them leads to missing family members.
A teenager who is disillusioned and unhappy at home will look for solutions to his or her problems outside of the family.
These problems can be resolved in the home if there is open communication between the children and their parents/guardians.
No issue should be too big, too small or too sensitive to talk about in the family. If the parents are diligent in their responsibilities they would create the proper environment that is conducive to instructive learning.
Even issues like sex education, illicit drug use and other pressing social problems should be tackled in the home - the best forum - and reinforced at school, church and other forums.
When children are well informed they are more likely to make responsible decisions about their lives. The risks of them falling into trouble are diminished.
Even if they do by mistake they can bounce back on track. Teenagers are in the age of puberty starting at about 11 and 12 years old. It’s a time of discovery, learning and trying things out.
If they are well taught and guided they will make the right decisions.
If parents/guardians do everything in their power to teach their children but some of them still rebel then blood is not on their hands.
If they fail because of neglect or negligence then they would be held responsible by God because parenting is a divine calling.
We cannot shirk it and shift the responsibility to someone else or totally abdicate it.
The big picture is that if a child fails, the family has failed.
Two scriptural passages from the Holy Bible remind parents/guardians of their responsibilities.
In Proverbs 22: 6, it says; “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
In Matthew 8: 5-6 it says “And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”
God has entrusted us parents to look after our children. If we are doing our job well our children are unlikely to easily go astray.