Over 300 cases of child and domestic abuse recorded in 2 years
By Folake Sokoya
The Advocates for Children and Vulnerable Persons Network (ACVPN), a Non – Governmental Organisation says it has recorded more than 300 cases of child and domestic abuses in the last two years with domestic violence having about 35percent of the recorded cases.
ACVPN Coordinator. Comrade Ebenezer Omejalule told our reporter that no fewer than five cases of child abuse are recorded on weekly basis in Lagos state.
According to him, the root cause of these various abuses is simply loss of values and cultures by perpetrators and in most cases, family members and as a result of the negative actions, the survivors see abuse as a way of life and invariably violate other children without remorse.
Omejalile noted that despite the inherent challenges in some cases, the group has ensured that the abused got justice.
Sexual abuse on children is another alarming social psychological abnormal preference by perpetrators due to the law not taking its course seriously and as a result of compromise by some officers in charge of such cases.
He also pointed out that police do not have financial vote in their budget for investigation and no provision of vehicles for specialised unit like the
State Intelligence Bureau (SIB),Juvenile Welfare Centre (JWC) and Gender Unit
“Some of these officers are forced to spend their little wages and when they don’t have,they begin to accept gratification from arrested perpetrators which may eventually truncate justice but the advocacy group is determined not to let that deter us from staying on course in the fight against the acts of evil perpetrators.” Omejalile
Comrade Omejalile also called on the government and good spirited Nigerians to join in the fight against child and domestic abuse.
“We need government support so that we can record more successful prosecution, not by ensuring defaulting officers are duly disciplined only but by also providing funds and equipments for officers in charge to be able to do their jobs accordingly.
“Both the government and the legislators should strategies on their commitment in the prosecution of such cases by allocating funds for prosecuting agencies such as the Police and National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons ( NAPTIP).” He added.