Community leaders, market women, religious leaders and others in Alimosho, the largest Local Government in Lagos State, on Tuesday, discussed ways of reducing the incidences of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in Lagos state.
During the meeting, which was held at the community hall of the Igando Ikotun Local Government secretariat and organised by women’s Rights and Health Project (WRAPH), the different stakeholders at the meeting insisted that parents have a role to play in reducing the incidence of SGBV in Alimosho and Lagos as a whole.
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They urged parents to take more responsibility by ensuring their children dress properly, be wary of bad influencers as friends as well as improve their relationship with their children.
“The rate of rape and other SGBV in Alimosho, a semi-urban settlement is the highest in Lagos over the past four years. Between March and November 2020, we have been able to attend to 160 cases of SGBV, domestic violence, neglect and abandonment, child abuse and other domestic incidences. The town hall meeting was conveyed to ensure we encourage the community members to report cases and avoid sweeping it under the carpet,” noted Olaoluwa Abagun, the center manager of Ireti resource centre.
She noted that the elderly who rape children should be dealt with appropriately.
In his contribution, the chief Imam of Ijegun Community, Alh AbdFattah Ahmed warned rapists to desist from the act as they will get a double punishment by the law enforcement agencies in this life and their Creator in the afterlife.
