Sesan Olufowobi
No fewer than 150 females were raped, while 31 babies were abandoned on the streets of Lagos in the last one year.
The Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, said this at a press briefing in Ikeja on Tuesday.
Akinbile-Yussuf explained that 150 reported cases of sexual and physical abuse were officially recorded, while five pregnant schoolchildren were assisted to access adequate ante-natal and delivery services and were also integrated back into school.
“Also, a total of 57,350 schoolchildren benefitted from individual and group counselling sessions to curb truancy, gangsterism and other social vices. About 150 reported cases of sexual abuse and physical abuse were treated. Five pregnant schoolchildren were assisted to access adequate antenatal and delivery services. They were also integrated back into school,” she added.
The commissioner further stated that 85 suspected rapists and paedophiles had been taken to court while the cases were still pending.
She said 31 babies, comprising 19 females and 12 males, abandoned by their parents, were rescued in the last one year on the streets of Lagos.
“The Child Protection Unit is responsible for the rescue and referral of all abandoned babies and children in the state to orphanages and homes. It also carries out child audit on the registered orphanages to decongest the homes and discourage institutionalisation. A total of 31 babies —19 females and 12 males — were rescued during the period under review,” she said.
She explained that 74 babies were released for adoption, while 81 adoptions were legalised through the family courts.
Akinbile-Yussuf said the government took 1,340 beggars, the destitute and the mentally-challenged off the streets of Lagos.
“A total of 590 rehabilitees were released and re-united with their relations for re-integration.
“The state government provides medical and vocational facilities to help in turning the lives of beggars around. About 147 rehabilitees are currently undergoing vocational training at the Lagos State Rehabilitation and Training Centre, Majidun,” she said.
The commissioner added that the state handled 634 juvenile cases in the last one year, out of which 26 juveniles were repatriated to their countries after due consultation with their embassies.
In the same vein, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Lola Akande, said the ministry in the last one year treated about 589 cases ranging from sexual abuse, physical abuse and child labour cases.
She said the ministry also received 382 cases of domestic violence out of which 234 were successfully treated, which among others include physical and emotional pains, harm, injury, humiliation and degradation, permanent and partial disability, separation, divorce and needless loss of lives.
Akande asked members of the society to come up with useful information on sexual violence against women and men, as well as other social vices including any suspected illegal baby factory