The Ministry of Gender, Family and Social Services has revealed that the ministry was prevented from relocating a group of at-risk children from a northern island to a safe environment by the island's citizens.

The revelation was made via Twitter on Friday. The ministry reportedly attempted to transfer four siblings from an island in the country's central province to a safe environment on Friday. However, a group of citizens from the island prevented the ministry from doing so, said the ministry.

In regard to this incident, an official from the Ministry of Gender stated that such incidents are reported to the police as per procedure and that this incident was reported accordingly as well. Nevertheless, the ministry did not disclose any further information.

As such, a team from the Gender ministry, specifically from the child rights division, has been actively monitoring Kanduhulhudhoo island for households with at-risk children after a two-year-old toddler from the island was raped by her close family members. Likewise, the ministry declared that swift action will be taken against families found to be neglecting or abusing children.