Lagos Records 1,480 Rape, Domestic Violence Cases

No fewer than 1,480 rape and other domestic violence cases were recorded in Lagos State within two years, with 480 counselled and referred to health, legal and other agencies. Lagos State Commissioner for Women and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), Lola Akande, who made this disclosure, said that the violence ranged from rape to child abuse, sexual abuse, assaults, defilement, divorce and matrimonial issues.

Akande spoke with journalists at the yearly ministerial press briefing to commemorate the second year in office of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. She said: “A total number of 1,480 domestic violence matters were re-ported from 2015 – March in 2017 – (565 in 2015, 700 in 2016 – and between Jan – March 2017 – 215). Also, 875 matters had been amicably resolved and follow up reviews conducted as well. But 480 were counselled and referred to other agencies because their requests were not within the purview of the ministry.

Like legal, health issues, youth and social development such cases were followed up. Also, 115 client’s matters were disengaged due to family interventions and 20 matters are still ongoing.”

Akande added that government had also embarked on training of vulnerable people in the society. According to her, 40,000 women were trained during the period under review. She said: “In addition to this, a three-week training acquisition programme was also organised for 150 people living with HIV/ AIDS, to give them a sense of belonging.

WAPA also enhanced the well-being of over 40,000 vulnerable women in collaboration with the Dangote Foundation, organised a four-week skill acquisition training programme for over 300 widows, trained over 3,000 out-of-school girls and also empowered over 131 teenagers and women among other skills acquisition initiatives.”

Akande added that the present administration believed that if residents were productively engaged and empowered, the dependence on government for the provision of some basic needs would reduce.

The commissioner said that the various empowerment programmes and poverty alleviation initiatives of the present administration had benefitted youths, women, widows and physically- challenged persons among others.