Lagos Commissioner for Justice Moyosore Onigbanjo says one out of four girls will be abused in Lagos before they turn 18.

Mr Onigbanjo, chairman of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT), disclosed this in Ikeja on Wednesday during a news conference commemorating September as the ‘Domestic and Sexual Violence Awareness Month’.

”Recent statistics conducted by the Lagos state government in partnership with UNICEF reveals that one in four girls would be abused before the age of 18,” he stated. ”Also, one in 10 boys would be abused before the age of 18 years old.”

The DSVRT chairman also stated that due to the findings, the team had included ‘Safeguarding and Child Protection Day’ as one of the ‘Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Awareness Month activities in September.

Mr Onigbanjo added, ”This would be an avenue to engage children drawn from both public and private schools on their rights and responsibilities. Aside from verbally engaging students on their rights and responsibilities, children would be equipped with relevant materials.”

He explained that since 2015, the DSVRT had commemorated Domestic and Sexual Violence Awareness Month.

Mr Onigbanjo further noted that systems were in place to ensure that the state’s response to sexual and gender-based violence was well structured and service delivery was fully optimal.

(NAN)