BEVERLY HILLS, May 31, (THEWILL) – The Lagos State Government, on Tuesday, revealed that it handled a total of 4, 035 cases ranging from rape, child abuse, sexual assault, sexual abuse, defilement, divorce, matrimonial issues and child’s custody and maintenance in the last one year.
This was disclosed by the State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, in a press briefing at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, on the activities of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) in the last one year.
Kazeem said that the State Government, under the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, has vowed not to shy away from prosecuting perpetrators of domestic violence no matter how highly placed in the society.
He added that the government has a zero tolerance for issues relating to domestic violence and child abuse and would not relent until the scourge is reduced to the barest minimum.
“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,” the Attorney General said.
He added that government agencies such as DSVRT, Office of Public Defender (OPD) and the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), have been mandated to ensure that perpetrators of the act are brought to justice and victims are helped towards their rehabilitation.
He announced that the DSVRT would on Friday, June 3, hold a free clinic for victims of domestic violence and rape at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa Secretariat, Lagos, or seek counselling with trained professionals via their hotline on 08137960048.
Story by David Oputah
