Lagos restate commitment at ending child molestation

… task traditional rulers to embrace the fight

The Lagos state government has pledged to sustain the advocacy against child abuse which has helped in a significant decline of reported cases.

This was made known during a child rights advocacy sensitization‎ in Lagos by a state counsel, Mrs. Kehinde Iyade‎, representing the Lagos State Ministry of Justice.

“The massive awareness now has actually helped in reducing the figures of child molestation, unlike 10-15 years ago where children could not speak up.

“We will never stop creating that awareness because there are still few unreported cases.

“The advocacy is very important and it is reaching plenty homes because of the statistics of reports we have had,” she said.

Mrs Iyade urged traditional rulers and communities to use their positions to enlighten children and parents on the rights of children and why it must be protected.

She further disclosed that ‎in Lagos state, most of the reported cases were from schools about victims being molested in the home.

In a bid to end the rising spate of child abuse, Lagos state traditional rulers also threw their weight behind the campaign to end child abuse, during the coranation of, HRM Afeez Badiru, the Elejigbo of Langbasa, in Langbasa, a community in Lagos‎, said “I have been an advocate of children knowing their rights, and that is why I always support such feat.

“Series of cases at my disposal makes me believe that most children and parents do not know their rights and what it means for a child to be abused.”

He noted that though awareness has been massive, there were still several cases out there, urging stakeholders to assist in educating ignorant parents in in rural areas of the implications of child abuse.

“We need more advocacy and enlightenment because this is how we can reduce the madness totally,” HRM Badiru stressed.

Also commenting, a teacher, Mrs. Ajifuwa Oluwasayo, said‎ “Not all students know their rights; they need to be properly enlightened at all levels because as a teacher, I have had reported cases of children who serve as maids and helpers to parents, being molested, punished, and not being pampered like their own children. Even when we try to link up with their biological parents, we find it difficult”.

Speaking on behalf of children, a student from Ado primary school, Fatai Mayowa, said,” Children are exposed to molestation everywhere, because some parents beat their children or maybe someone they are taking care of, or living with them, and it needs to be stopped, the government needs to speak and sanction parents who do this very well.‎”