150 female raped, 31 babies abandoned in Lagos

150 female raped, 31 babies abandoned in Lagos

Tuesday, April 26, 2016 3:16 pm


Governor Ambode:

Governor Ambode:

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

At least, 150 females have been raped and 31 babies abandoned on the streets of Lagos in the last one year, says the Lagos State Government.

Commissioner for Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf disclosed this today at a ministerial news conference in Ikeja, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.

Akinbile-Yussuf disclosed that 150 reported cases of sexual and physically abused were recorded, while fice pregnant school children were assisted to access adequate antenatal and delivery services as they were also integrated back to school.

“A total of 57,350 school children benefitted from individual and group counseling sessions to curb truancy, gangsterism, abscondment and other social vices and that 150 reported cases of sexual abuse and physical abuse were treated. Also five pregnant school children were assisted to access adequate antenatal and delivery services. They were also integrated back to school,” she said.

She further disclosed that 85 suspected rapists and people who physically abused children had been taken to court while the cases were still pending.

The commissioner also disclosed that 31 babies, which include 19 females and 12 males, abandoned by their parents were rescued in the last one year on the streets of Lagos.

“The Child Protection Unit is responsible for the rescue/referral of all abandoned babies and ‘lost but found’ children in the State to registered orphanages and homes. It also carries out child audit on the registered orphanages in order to conduct a case review of the children in the homes with a view to decongesting the homes and discouraging institutionalization. A total number of 31 babies (19 females and 12 males) were rescued during the period under review,” she said.

On adoption and fostering, Akinbile –Yussuf disclosed that in the last one year, over 1,000 applications had been received; out of which 110 applications had been screened for Adoption.

She added that 74 babies were released for adoption from previous approvals while 81 adoptions were legalized through the Family Courts (70 were for Local and 11 for International).

On the issue of beggar, Akinbile-Yussuf disclosed that in the last one year, 1,340 beggars/ destitute/ mentally challenged were rescued off the streets of Lagos.

“A total number of 590 rehabilitee were released and re-united with their relations for re-integration, 1, 228 rehabilitee are in residence at RTC Majidun, Ikorodu as at the time of compiling this report.

“The State government provides medical and vocational facilities to help in turning the lives of the Beggars/destitute around while in residence and aftercare services. 147 rehabilitee are equally undergoing vocational training at the Rehabilitation and Training Centre, Majidun.

“Forty three drug dependents rehabilitees who probably lost hope were restored to their former position of functional ability while another 20 are still undergoing rehabilitation and vocational training at the Rehabilitation and Vocational Training Centre, Isheri. Twenty six physically challenged persons are presently undergoing vocational training at the State Vocational Rehabilitation Centre for Persons with Disabilities at Owutu, Ikorodu,” she stated.

The commissioner disclosed that the state had handled 634 juvenile cases in the last one year, out of which 26 juveniles were repatriated to the countries after due consultation with their embassies that requested for such mutual repatriation.


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