- The Lagos State DSVA confirmed that 2,213 girls were victims of physical, sexual, and emotional violence in the past year.
- Executive Secretary Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi said children aged 0–9 faced the highest risk of abuse in Lagos.
- The Lagos Government provides medical, psychosocial, and rescue services to child abuse survivors through the DSVA.
- Some abused children are relocated or placed under protective custody for safety and rehabilitation.
The Lagos State Government, through its Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), has disclosed that 2,213 girls in the state were victims of various forms of violence between September 2024 and August 2025.
The Executive Secretary of the DSVA, Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, made this known during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos. She said the data was released in commemoration of the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child, observed globally on October 11.
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Vivour-Adeniyi explained that out of the 8,692 survivors the agency supported in the last one year, 3,629 were children, with 60 percent being girls. “The 60 percent represent 2,213 girls who suffered physical, sexual, emotional, or neglect-related abuse,” she said.
She revealed that children between the ages of zero and nine years were the most vulnerable to different forms of abuse, noting that early intervention and awareness were key to reducing such cases.
According to her, the DSVA provides comprehensive care for children who have been abused or witnessed abuse. This includes medical treatment, psychosocial support, and therapeutic interventions such as play therapy to help them recover emotionally.
“For children who have witnessed abuse, we ensure they receive psychosocial support through therapeutic methods like play therapy to show them that abuse is not normal. Abuse is wrong, and there are better ways to resolve conflicts,” she added.
Vivour-Adeniyi also disclosed that in cases where children or their families faced threats, the agency often relocated them to safer environments. “Sometimes, we have to move families away from their community, especially when the abuse case becomes public knowledge,” she said.
She further revealed that there were instances where parents themselves were perpetrators of violence. In such situations, the DSVA collaborates with the Ministry of Youth and Social Development to carry out investigations and determine the child’s safety.
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“Where assessments show that a child remains at risk if kept at home, we ensure the child is removed and placed in protective custody until it is safe for reunion with a trusted family member,” she said.
Vivour-Adeniyi emphasized that the Lagos State Government remains committed to creating a safe environment for all children and continues to work toward eradicating child abuse in every form.
