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By Lukman Olabiyi
The Lagos State government has said that in the last one year, 8,692 cases of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) were reported in the state, just as the state through the Ministry of Justice is taking necessary steps to restore hope and confidence in the victims to get rid of the trauma.
Briefing the press on Friday, August 29, on the Domestic and Sexual Violence Awareness Month, which comes up in September, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN), said that the effects of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence cannot be overemphasised as 90% of the survivors disclosed that they have experienced low self-esteem, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), extreme fear and anxiety, and about 5% suffered from depression and had to seek medical help.
The Attorney General said: “The theme of the awareness is ‘SGBV?…It concerns us all’.” He said the topic was chosen because SGBV is not a respecter of age.
The Attorney General, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary and the Solicitor General of his ministry, Mr Ahmid Oyenuga, said every stakeholder would be involved in the awareness programme, and that for the first time the private sector would be involved.
According to Pedro: “We are also set to launch the guidelines on sexual harassment prevention in the workplace, thereby fostering safer and more respectful work environments. Children would not be left out, as the safeguarding and child protection week would witness the gathering of over 1,200 students, debating on the topic ‘It’s okay to tell’,” Pedro explained.
Shedding more light on the activities of the agency involved in sexual abuse, he noted that between August 2024 and July 2025, the DSVA received a total of 8,692 cases through both physical walk-ins and the Virtual Referral and Response Service (VRRS) and, on average, the Agency attends to over 400 clients monthly.
He said 3,685 cases of domestic violence were reported, making it the most prevalent category. “243 cases of defilement and 244 cases of child abuse/physical assault were handled. 99 cases of rape, 48 cases of sexual harassment, and 25 cases of sexual assault by penetration were recorded,” Pedro said.
The commissioner said the Agency has conducted a total of 402 preliminary investigations and rescue missions of survivors of Domestic and Sexual Violence in Lagos State.
Pedro said in the period under review, a total of fifty-seven (57) safeguarding and child protection concerns were received by the Lagos State Taskforce on Safeguarding and Child Protection (which comprises the Office of Education Quality Assurance and the Department of School Social Work of the Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Ministry of Health, DSVA, and NGOs).
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“One of the Agency’s main responsibilities is to provide immediate and quick response to SGBV cases by providing support, counselling, empowerment, shelter, mediation, and other referrals and services to survivors.”
The Attorney General stressed that, out of the 20 Local Government Areas in the State, the top five LGAs with the highest reporting for adults include Alimosho, Eti-Osa, Ikorodu, Kosofe, and Oshodi-Isolo, whilst for cases involving children, we have recorded high reporting from Ikorodu, Kosofe, Badagry, Alimosho, and Oshodi-Isolo, respectively.
Pedro highlighted that a significant 3,090 children were identified as having suffered emotional abuse due to exposure to domestic violence at home. DSVA provided counselling support to ensure they are not permanently scarred by these experiences.
“The youngest survivor was 18 months old, while the oldest survivor of domestic violence was a 79-year-old woman, demonstrating that SGBV affects every age group.”
Pedro said legal support: free legal aid was provided to 146 survivors through in-house lawyers, the Bureau of the Public Defender, private law firms, and the Lagos Public Interest Law Partnership.
He maintained that the agency has been of support to the victims by providing health care services for them, whereby survivors received treatment at General Hospitals, Primary Health Centres, and referral centres such as Mirabel Centre, WARIF, and Idera Centre.
Pedro stated that shelter and safety were provided for 30 survivors as they were housed at Eko Haven and other safe shelters, and other support rendered included psychological and rescue missions.
He stressed that during the period under review, the analysis revealed that male reports were higher compared to previous years for adults.
He added by saying: “With growing awareness of mental wellness and the need to continue to ensure the psycho-social wellbeing of couples for a better society, the Clinical Psychology Department provided psychotherapy and psychosocial support for 1,489 survivors, including children, and 249 abusers respectively.”
