Can an abused child choose where to stay ? NGO tackles Lagos state agency ,Ministry of Youth and Social Development over protective custody of a serially defiled girl.

 

The Advocates for Children and Vulnerable Persons Network ACVPN and the Child Protection Unit of the Lagos state Ministry of Youth and Social Development MYSD are at loggerheads over where a rescued defiled girl who was also forced to abort her pregnancy can be sheltered. 

While the ACVPN said it  has ensured that the girl was rescued, her abusers arrested and are being made to dance to the music of thier crime, ACVPN said it's  further efforts to ensure that the abused child is kept under state protective custody to avoid any untoward interference of her being tutored to recant her experience of the ugly incident she endured and to enable her go through the needed treatment so as to heal from the traumatic experience, the Lagos state child protection unit and Mr. Bolaji Ogunlende the Commissioner Lagos state Ministry of Youth and Social Development however stated that the child has a right to choose where to stay and so the agency cannot provide her with protective custody against her wish. 

In a letter to the honourable Commissioner Youth and Social Development MYSD Lagos state , the ACVPN coordinator Mr. Ebenezer Omejalile condemned the officials of the Child Protection Unit for not taking the best interest of the child into consideration adding that it is indeed regretable that an agency saddled with the responsibility of protecting children, especially abused children are the ones sadly seeking permission from the child on how to protect her. The ACVPN sent a letter to the Commissioner MYSP seeking his intervention but the Commissioner MYSP Lagos state Mr. Bolaji Ogundele stands with the officials of the Child Protection Unit that the abused child can choose where to stay. 

The ACVPN letter reads: 

THE HONORABLE COMMISSIONER 

THROUGH THE OFFICE OF THE PERMANENT SECRETARY 

LAGOS STATE MINISTRY OF YOUTH AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT (MYSD)

ALAUSA SECRETARIAT IKEJA.

Dear Sir

LETTER OF COMPLAINTS ON REFUSED PLACEMENT OF A MINOR IN A SAFE HOUSE BY LAGOS STATE MINISTRY OF YOUTH AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT (CHILD PROTECTION UNIT)

We hereby bring to your good office attention to the above mentioned subject. We are Advocates For Children and Vulnerable persons Network (ACVPN).

It's a social justice platform that Comprises both States Actors and Non States Actors, We leverage on each other strengths to achieve a common goal in the best interest of Children and all vulnerable persons across the federation irrespective of their status.

Sir we seek your good office to address the above stated issue as concerns our position and the vulnerability of the minor in question. A case of sexual defilement and abortions on a minor was reported by our organization to the Nigeria Police Force, Ifako-Gbagada, Lagos on the 8th Of April, 2024.

 The perpetrators in this case, where apprehended by the Police, while the minor was being closely watched under the custody of the DPO of the station . 

The perpetrators were moved to the Gender Unit Of the Nigeria Police Force, Ikeja on the 12th of April, 2024 and further charged to court from the results of the investigations carried out by the Gender unit officers. 

The minor's shelter status was raised to the Lagos State Ministry of Youth And Social Development, Child Protection Unit, for speedy intervention on Friday 12th April, 2024, by our case Manager, while the case was being heard at the Samuel Ilori Court House, Ogba Magistrate Court, so that she would have a safe place to stay, avoid tutoring to change her given statements and also keep her on a place where she would get away from the traumatic events. 

The officials who the case manager called, asked for the charge sheet of the case, a police extract of the case and a letter from ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE PERSON'S NETWORK, stating their role in the matter as required documents to enable them place the minor in a shelter. They did not take her in that day, as they were rounding off work. The case manager got the stated documents and deposited in the office of the Permanent Secretary as they had stated to her on Monday, 15th April,

 2024. 

She still met with stiff resistance as they said that the document they required was an extract from the Gender unit. She duly got it back to them with the Police extract document, but they also turned ot down saying that there was no specification from the IPO of the case asking that the minor be placed in safe shelter.

The case manager even suggested that the officials of Lagos State MYSD(CPU) call the officials of the Gender unit to get verfication on the matter but this has not been helpful as even of Tuesday 16th April, 2024, the officials have failed to take calls or messages to address this issue.

We call on your good office Honorable Commissioner, Lagos State Ministry Of Youth and Social Development and also the Permanent Secretary, to please the Child Protection Unit Head Sunbo by name to order in the ministry, to take a closer look into this matter, why a victim of a heinous crime who happens to be a minor, will not be granted a measure of safety to ensure her well being. Such an action, more likely than not, will lead to a compromise and natural death of the case, of not well handled and followed up.

Thank you for your usual cooperation and understanding as we anticipate a positive response from your good office regarding this report.

Warmest Regards 

Ebenezer M. Omejalile

Reacting to the ACVPN letter, Mr. Bolaji Ogunlende the Commissioner

Ministry of Youth and Social Development stated. 

"We wish to clarify the situation regarding a recent case involving a potential need for shelter for a minor who was allegedly sexually abused.

On the 12th of April, 2024, The Child Protection Unit of the Ministry received a call concerning a potential need for shelter placement for a Survivor of sexual abuse. 

We were informed by the caller that the matter had been reported at the Police Station, and the perpetrators were arrested, investigated, and are under police custody.

The caller stated further that the Police had released the child to a relative. Because we take such reports seriously, the caller was invited to the office on Monday 15th April 2024 to give more information. The caller came with the survivor and the relative to the office. At that point, the child said she wanted to go home with her aunt while she waited for her mother in the village to pick her up. 

Even though the Police had released the child to her relatives, the caller(Representative) of the Non-Governmental Organisation NGO still insisted that the child should be placed in a shelter, contrary to the child’s wishes.

We wish to categorically state that the Lagos State Government through the Ministry of Youth and Social Development is committed to working with Law Enforcement and Social Services Providers to ensure the safety and well-being of a minor who may be at risk.

The Child’s Rights Law paramount objective is to safe-guard the well-being of children, and this office being the appropriate authority recognised by the Law for its implementation will not ignore the wishes of a child in determining the child’s best interest.

Having expressed her desire to stay with her family members, the need for shelter was not deemed to be necessary in this instance.

We encourage anyone who has concerns about a child’s welfare to contact the authorities immediately, this includes; 

Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development

The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, And

The Gender Unit of the Nigeria Police Force.". 

Mr. Bolaji Ogunlende

Hon. Commissioner

Ministry of Youth and Social Development.

15th April, 2024

Ibadan residents decry reactionary policing , want answers how Sessionists beat security operatives and hosted thier flag in Oyo state govt secretariat building ----

 

 

While some residents in Ibadan Oyo state have commended the security operatives for thier timely response to Sessionists attempt to take over the Oyo state seat of power on Saturday other  residents however have expressed shock at the news of suspected criminals disguised as agitators who succeeded in hoisting thier flag in the Oyo state government secretariat . 

The agitators who allegedly wear foreign camouflage are said to be Oodua Nation Sessionists, who  stormed the Oyo state government secretariat building in thier numbers and succeeded in hoisting thier flag before they were stopped by the combined security operatives drafted to the secretariat.

A resident who identified himself simply as Adeoye while reacting to the audacious attempt to take over the secretariat commended the security operatives for neutralising the threat but wonders how the agitators beat the security check points to get inside the government seat of power. 

He said " I am grateful to God for stopping the evil plans of so called agitators and the quick response from the combined security operatives in the state. The entire scenarios shows that  that secretariat and the entire Ibadan land need to be more protected because I have been wondering how do they beat the security operatives on the roads to get into the middle of a government seat of power. I learnt they came in a bus and bikes and they were fully kitted  but  how were they not intercepted until they got into the secretariat and hoisted thier flag?  Are they not supposed to be security operatives manning the entry and exit gates of the secretariat? So how was it possible to allow such large number of people in camouflage enter through the gates? 

Another resident who identified himself as Korede said " This is not acceptable. Why are the security operatives reactionary to issues instead of being proactive. We thank God they nip those people who claim to be agitators in the bud but as a resident in this town , I would need to know how they could have successfully entered the seat of power in my state to hoist thier flag. It is a big slap on our security architecture in this state. 

Another resident Mr. Jimoh who claimed to be a security consultant urged the security operatives to be more vigilant. 

" Oyo state is peaceful all these while and it's the security operatives that have been keeping us safe through the help of God and the commitment of the government. This peace should not be taken away as I urge all those in charge of the security of this state to be more vigilant . Security persons manning the gates and those on the roads  should desist from begging for alms. This kind of  behaviour does not show that they are serious on thier job. The enemies can easily penetrate and beat the check points if such  behaviour are being practiced by security personnel ". 

Police , DSS, Army , Amotekun Secure Oyo State Secretariat As suspected O’odua Nation Agitators Attempt To Take Over Assembly , overthrow Govt Seyi Makinde.

 

There was  a gun  battle between state state security personnel  Nigeria police force , army personnel and Oodua Nation agitators at the Oyo state government secretariat today. 

It was learned that the suspected Oodua Nation agitators in Army uniform stormed the government secretariat in numbers to hijack the Oyo state House of Assembly.

It was gathered that  the alleged agitators had already taken over the assembly complex premises, and hosted their flag before the  arrival of backup security personnel.

As of filling this report, the presence of Nigerian Police, Amotekun, and other security personnel had put the ugly situation into order, and several of the suspected agitators were killed in the ensuring battle. 

It was gathered that the leader of the agitators was arrested and assisting with information.

Additional information via Western Daily News