Lagos records1,480, rape, Domestic Violence cases

No fewer than 1,480 rape and other domestic violence cases have been recorded in Lagos State within two years, with 480 matters counseled and referred to health, legal and other agencies.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Women and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), Lola Akande , who made this disclosure, said that the violence ranges from rape, child abuse, sexual abuse, assaults, defilement, divorce and matrimonial issues.

Speaking with journalists at the yearly ministerial press briefing, to commemorate the second year in office of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, Akande said: “A total number of 1480 domestic violence matters were reported from 2015 - March in 2017  -( 565 in 2015,  700 in 2016- and between  Jan – March 2017 – 215). 875 matters had been amicably resolved and follow up reviews conducted as well. 480 matters were counseled 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. 115 client’s matters were disengaged due to family interventions and 20 matters are still on-going.”

She added that the state 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 added: “In addition to this, a three-week training acquisition programme was also organized 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 3000 out-of- school girls and also empowered over 131 teenagers and women among other skills acquisition initiatives.”
She added that the present administration believes that if residents of the state are productively engaged and empowered, the dependence on government for the provision of some basic needs would reduce.

Akande said that the various empowerment programmes and poverty alleviation initiatives of the present administration have beneficiaries among youths, women, widows, physically