90 cases of defilement reported in Lagos in 11 months – Imohimi

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, has decried the increasing cases of defilement in the Lagos metropolis.  The Lagos police boss, who called on parents to be more watchful of adults who cluster around their under-aged daughters, explained that about 1000 cases of domestic violence were recorded in the state between January and […]

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, has decried the increasing cases of defilement in the Lagos metropolis.

 The Lagos police boss, who called on parents to be more watchful of adults who cluster around their under-aged daughters, explained that about 1000 cases of domestic violence were recorded in the state between January and November 2017, adding that of the number, 90 cases of defilement were reported in various parts of the metropolis.

 Imohimi described as worrisome the realisation that cases of rape and defilement the command investigated within the period were perpetrated by repeat offenders.

 Saying that many suspects took advantage of the vulnerable state of their victims to carry out the act, the police commissioner explained that some suspects lured their victims into their residences where they raped them, after which they would threaten their victims they would die if they opened up on what had happened to anybody.

 Imohimi wondered, “Parents are now engrossed in making money at the expense of their wards. Some of them go out to their respective businesses as early as 5:00a.m. and will not be back until 10:00p.m. They are usually tired when they are back and will not bother to check on their children. The next morning they are out again. How will they be able to monitor what affects their kids?”

 He advised parents to be more vigilant, and to be close to their under-aged children, particularly the female ones.

 He noted that the alarming discovery has necessitated the need to sensitise parents on parenting skills, child abuse prevention tips, training for children on child’s rights, child abuse, safety and how to preserve evidence.

 “Victims, too, should speak out more, though there is an astronomical increase in reporting of cases in the media,” he added.

 He pointed out that recently, policemen arrested a 42-year- old man, Jimoh Adeola, for allegedly raping and impregnating his neighbour’s daughter.

 Adeola, who resides at No. 4, Omodara Avenue, Iju-Ishaga, Lagos, was said to have sexually assaulted his neighbour’s 16-year-old daughter.

 It was gathered that the suspect allegedly had carnal knowledge of the girl, whose names were withheld. The girl was afraid to report the matter to her parents, having been threatened with death, But her elder sister began to suspect something was amiss when she observed her junior one gaining weight.

 Consequently, the sister decided to take the victim for a medical test where it was confirmed she was pregnant.

 When she was asked who was responsible for her pregnancy, she said that it was the suspect, who she alleged had raped her sometime in January 2017.

 The matter was later reported at the station and the suspect was arrested and detained.

 Though the suspect denied having raped the girl, preliminary investigation carried out by the police indicted him.

 Also, a 17-year-old apprentice, Godspower Adarugbe, was also arrested for allegedly raping his neighbour’s daughter at the Igando area of the state.

 Adarugbe, who resides at Agbole Compound, Igando, a suburb of Lagos, is facing two counts charge of conspiracy and rape.

 The state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Adeniji Kazeem, at a press conference in Lagos yesterday to commemorate the Domestic and Sexual Violence Awareness Month, also echoed the fears of the Lagos police boss.

 Kazeem revealed that there were 564 domestic violence cases, 60 defilement cases, 30 rape cases, 11 attempted rape cases, 123 child neglect and abuse cases and 84 other cases.

 Kazeem, who is also the Chairman of the DSVRT, said valuable data showed an increase in men coming forward to report cases of domestic violence. This year alone, a total number of 55 men, he disclosed, had come forward to report to the DSVRT, in contrast to 14 men that reported last year.

 He said the data revealed that most sexual assault cases were perpetrated in the afternoon during weekdays, while corroborating that 95 per cent of the perpetrators of sexual violence were known to the victims, which, according to him, necessitated the need to embark on sensitisation campaigns for parents on parenting skills and child abuse prevention tips, as well as trainings for children on child’s rights, child abuse, safety and how to preserve evidence.

 He said that some of the cases had since been charged to court, adding that the state government, through the Ministry of Youth and Social Development and other stakeholders, provided shelter for the survivors.