Twin 9-Year-Old Boys Left Basically Alone for Months

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Time-AP

Sarah Begley

Twin 9-year-olds were left virtually on their own for four months in a Manchester, N.H. apartment where an uncle would only occasionally check in on them.

The boys’ parents and three siblings left for Nigeria in July with the intention of returning the next month, but were delayed, the Associated Press reports. In the mean time, their 25-year-old uncle, Giobari Atura, was supposed to stay with the boys. Instead, he says he checked in on them every few days.

Police finally became involved in November when the boys’ school alerted them that they’d been living alone, getting themselves up in the morning and taking the bus to eat breakfast and lunch at school. The only edible food found in the apartment was ramen.

The twins were initially placed in foster care, but have now been returned to their parents, who came back to the U.S. shortly after learning of the situation. While Atura was charged with endangering the welfare of a child in December, the parents will not be charged since they left their sons in the care of a relative.

[AP]

Read more: http://time.com/3680043/twin-9-year-alone-for-months/

[stevenleser]

1. This might be a cultural issue. Need to know more. Obviously this is a no-go here in the US

When I was in neighboring Kenya a couple of years ago, a Masai guide talked to us about what life is like as a Masai. He said that the boys are expected from age 8 or 9 to guard the family flocks of sheep and cows by themselves at night. This puts them between the flocks and all African predators including lions and hyenas.

My guide told me his first confrontation with Lions was when he was 10. He talks of being completely alone out on the savannah facing a pride of 30 lions. He placed himself between the lions and the flock to protect the flock. A 10 year old boy alone facing 30 lions. The lead lioness approached within 30 feet of him and started growling menacingly at him. He had three weapons on him, a club, a spear and a long knife. He threw the club at her, it missed and she kind of turned to look at the club as it passed by. After a tense few moments, the pride turned away.

The point is that boys 8-10 are considered able to take care of themselves in many tribes in Africa. I don't know the situation with the uncle but he may have been operating under similar beliefs.

[treestar]

2. Probably very poor too

Aura could at least have made sure they had enough food for dinner every day.

[kelliekat44]

3. They seemed to know to go to school. They were not cited for absence from school.

In some cultures young children are very capable of taking care of their basic needs. This is sad on many levels.

[Nye Bevan]

4. "Free-range parenting". Apparently it's a thing now (nt)