The Lagos State Government said on Thursday that 5,624 incidences of domestic and sexual violence including 2588 children sexual abuse were reported in the state between August 1, 2022, and July 31, 2023.
The youngest victim of sexual assault was an 18-month-old infant, while the oldest victim of domestic violence was a 79-year-old lady.
Mrs Titilayo Shitta-Bey, Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, said this during a media briefing for the observance of Domestic and Sexual Violence Awareness Month held at the Secretariat, Alausa.
Shitta-Bey, who was represented by the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, Mrs Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, stated that the DSVA “now receives an average of 250 clients on a monthly basis.”
“From August 2022 to July 2023, the agency has received a total of 5,624 cases via the Virtual Referral and Response Service and physical report. The agency now receives an average of 250 clients on a monthly basis,” the Solicitor-General further stated, “The youngest child that experienced sexual violence was an 18-month-old baby, whilst the oldest client that experienced domestic violence was a 79-year-old woman.”
Shitta-Bey noted that during the time under consideration, the agency documented:
“2,331 domestic violence (cases), 90 rape (cases), 72 sexual assaults, one attempt to commit rape, two cases of sexual assault by penetration, 123 threats to life, 609 other domestic problems and abuse cases, and 384 non-GBV cases.”
Other incidents reported, according to the Permanent Secretary, include 143 cases of child abuse/physical assault, 235 cases of defilement, three cases of minor-to-minor molestation, and 33 cases of sexual harassment.
“The agency has secured 21 restraining orders, granted by the courts pursuant to the Protection Against Domestic Violence Law, 2015 against abusive spouses. Furthermore, Lagos State Government through the Directorate of Public Prosecutions secured at least 120 judgments during the period under review,” she said.
While announcing plans for the 2023 Domestic and Sexual abuse Awareness Month, which kicks out on Friday, September 1, the Solicitor-General urged victims of sexual and domestic abuse to overcome the culture of silence by coming out.
cc: Punch Ng
