Domestic violence: Five killed in Lagos

The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) said it has received reports of five deaths due to domestic violence in the state.

The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), disclosed this Wednesday at a press briefing to commemorate ‘The Domestic and Sexual Violence Awareness Month’, September 2021.

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He said the death cases were reported to the police as well as the Chief Coroner of Lagos State for an inquest to be conducted with a view to ascertaining the cause of deaths, the outcome of which, he said, would strengthen the case for prosecution.

He said prosecution is ongoing in three of the cases while the remaining two suspects were currently on the run.

Onigbanjo who is the chairman of DSVRT also said between May 2019 and August 26, 2021; the team has handled 10,007 cases, which include 4,150 cases of domestic violence; 177 rape cases; 255 rape/sexual assault attempts; 436 child abuse and physical assaults.

Others are: 271 defilement cases; 13 defilements by minor to minor; 454 child labour, abduction and neglect; 148 sexual harassment and molestation cases, and 877 non-GBV cases.

“A total of 2,980 children have experienced emotional abuse as they were exposed to domestic violence within their homes. Some of these children have been taken through counselling programmes. In the period under review, the Directorate of Public Prosecutions has secured over 365 convictions for various sexual offences,” he said.

He added that cases of child abuse were reported in 37 schools with judgment secured in two cases, while one school was shut down as a result of infractions and another was requested to relocate due to child protection concerns raised during investigation.