The executive secretary of Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), Mrs Titilola Vicious – Amenities on weekend said 3,629 children, including 2,213 girls, suffered various forms of violence between September 2024 and August 2025.
Vivour-Adeniyi, stated this in an interview in Lagos.as the world marked the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child on 11 October. She called for the need to examine the abuses girls faced and act to protect them.
“In the past year, the agency provided services to 8,692 survivors. Out of these, 3,629 were children.
“Of the 3,629 children, 60 per cent were female and 40 per cent male. The 60 per cent represent 2,213 girls who suffered physical, sexual, emotional, or neglect-related abuse,” she said.
She stated that children between zero and nine years old were at a higher risk of experiencing different forms of abuse.
She stated that the agency ensures that children who have witnessed abuse receive psychosocial support through various therapeutic methods, including play therapy.
“We provide holistic support to children who have been abused, as well as those who have witnessed abuse.
“For children who have witnessed abuse, we ensure they access psychosocial support through therapeutic methods such as play therapy, aimed at showing them that abuse is not normalised.
“Abuse is wrong, and there are other ways to resolve conflicts,” Mrs Vivour-Adeniyi stated.
She said children who had been abused received comprehensive assistance, including medical care, psychosocial support, and rescue services when necessary.
“Sometimes, we have to relocate children or families from their environment, especially when the issue becomes known within the community,” she said.
Mrs Vivour-Adeniyi revealed that there were instances where a parent was the perpetrator of violence against the child.
“In such cases, the agency works closely with the Ministry of Youth and Social Development to support investigations,” she stated.
(NAN)