The Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Adeniji Kazeem has said the state recorded at least 4,035 cases of sexual and child abuse in the last one year.
Kazeem made this revelation during a news briefing on the activities of the state’s Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the state governor, Mr. Habib Aruna quoted Kazeem as saying that the government handled a total of 192 cases comprising 89 domestic violence cases, 62 defilement cases, 18 rape cases, six attempted rape, 10 child neglect and seven child abuse cases. Ninety-two cases are currently being heard in court.
The commissioner further warned that the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode would not tolerate domestic violence and child abuse and would do everything within its powers to tackle the issue.
“Let me sound a note of warning here that no matter how highly placed you are in the society, if you commit any domestic violence crime, Lagos State will go after you and prosecute you in court,” he said.
He was quoted as saying, “As regards the provision of shelter for victims, the Ministries of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and Youth and Social Development as well as strategic partners NGOs have played key roles in ensuring that victims were evacuated to a safer environment of shelter homes.
“All the victims of sexual assault received medical attention from Mirabel Centre and State Hospitals, and so far, 50 of such cases were charged to court.”
Kazeem further assured that the state government double up its efforts to address issues related to sexual abuse and domestic violence on the front burner.
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