24/08/2026
You think only female children are s*xually abused? Think again.
Whenever we talk about abuse, especially s*xual abuse, the conversation often focuses on girls. And somehow, male children are left in the shadows as if “to the boys, to hell with them.”
Let me tell you a story.
An 8-year-old boy was sent by his parents to a barbing salon to learn a trade. On his first day, the man who was supposed to teach him a skill introduced him to po*******hy and gradually manipulated him into s*xual abuse.
This abuse continued for two years.
For two years, this child carried a secret he was too young to understand, while his parents remained unaware.
Then he travelled to the village to visit his grandmother.
Something changed.
He began chasing younger children around inappropriately, seemingly trying to repeat what had been done to him. His grandmother noticed the disturbing behaviour and alerted his parents.
That was when the truth began to unfold.
The police eventually arrested the alleged perpetrator, and the child was taken to the hospital. Sadly, by then, the abuse had already caused serious physical and emotional harm.
Now stop and ask yourself:
What kind of parent am I?
Am I a parent who is physically present but emotionally absent?
Am I the parent who never creates a safe space for my child to talk?
Am I the parent who thinks s*x education is too uncomfortable to discuss?
Am I the parent who sees my child's behaviour but never asks, “What is happening to you?”
Or am I the parent who assumes, “My son is a boy. Nothing can happen to him.”
Wake up, parents.
Our male children need protection too.
Teach your sons about their bodies. Teach them that nobody has the right to touch their private parts. Teach them that they can say NO, even to an adult. Teach them the difference between a safe secret and an unsafe secret.
Create an environment where your child can come to you without fear of being shouted at, blamed or punished.
And please, pay attention to changes in behaviour.
A child who suddenly becomes withdrawn, aggressive, unusually s*xualised, fearful of a particular person, or begins behaving in ways that are not appropriate for their age may be communicating something they cannot put into words.
Don't wait until the damage is done before you start asking questions.
And parents, being present is not enough.
Be present. Be observant. Be approachable. Be protective.
Look after your male children.
Sometimes, help them bathe or supervise them appropriately, especially when they are young. Teach them personal hygiene and body boundaries. Most importantly, let them know:
“If anyone ever touches you in a way that makes you uncomfortable, you can tell me. I will listen. I will believe you. I will protect you.”
Because abuse does not ask whether a child is male or female before it strikes.
Every child deserves protection. Every child deserves to be heard. Every child deserves to grow up without carrying an abuser's secret.
