10,613 Lagos children suffered emotional abuse after witnessing domestic violence — Lagos govt

At least 10,613 children in Lagos State suffered emotional abuse after witnessing domestic violence in their homes over the past five years, the state government has said.

In a statement on Monday, the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, made this disclosure at a press comference to mark the commencement of the 2026 Domestic and Sexual Violence Awareness Month.

Mr Pedro, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), stated that the children were not necessarily the direct targets of the violence but were affected by what they witnessed at home.

“These children may not have been direct targets of the violence, but exposure to violence can leave deep emotional scars,” he said.

He stressed that the figures underscored the need to consider the wider impact of domestic violence, particularly on children who witness abuse between family members.

Data presented by the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency showed that 33,009 cases of domestic and sexual violence were reported between September 2021 and July 2026.

Domestic violence accounted for the largest number, with 13,515 cases.

The agency also recorded 1,171 cases of defilement, 797 cases of child abuse and physical assault, 420 rape cases, 428 cases of sexual harassment and 100 cases of sexual assault by penetration.

Other reports included 323 threats to life, 79 attempted rape cases and 95 cases of technology-facilitated sexual and gender-based violence involving adults and minors.

The agency further recorded 1,861 family-related disputes involving custody, neglect, abduction and child labour.

Reported cases rose from 1,075 between September and December 2021 to 5,929 in 2022, 6,389 in 2023 and 7,882 in 2024.

The figure fell to 7,721 in 2025 and stood at 4,013 as of July 2026.

Mr Pedro cautioned that the decline in reported cases should not automatically be interpreted as a reduction in the actual prevalence of violence.

He explained that factors such as survivors’ willingness to report, public awareness, access to support services and reporting channels could affect the figures.

“A reduction in reported cases does not automatically mean that Sexual and Gender Based Violence has reduced by exactly the same proportion across Lagos State,” he said.

Violence cuts across income groups

The commissioner also rejected the idea that domestic and sexual violence was primarily a consequence of unemployment or financial hardship.

According to the data, 38 per cent of survivors were unemployed, 47 per cent were employed and seven per cent were self-employed.

Among alleged perpetrators, 31 per cent were employed, 45 per cent self-employed and 12 per cent unemployed.

“This proves that Domestic and Sexual Violence cannot be reduced to unemployment or economic hardship. Violence cuts across social and economic categories,” Mr Pedro stressed.

Domestic violence accounted for 75.5 per cent of reported assaults involving adults.

For children, emotional abuse made up 82.3 per cent of reported cases, followed by defilement at 8.2 per cent and physical assault and child abuse at 6.6 per cent.

The psychological consequences were also substantial. Mr Pedro said 90 per cent of survivors reported problems including low self-esteem, post-traumatic stress disorder, extreme fear and anxiety.

About five per cent experienced depression that required medical attention.

He added that 30 per cent of women who reported abuse were pregnant when the violence occurred, while 35 per cent of domestic violence survivors said the abuse happened within the first five years of their marriages.

Financial dependence, concerns about children and socio-cultural pressures were among the reasons survivors delayed reporting, he said.

Legal and psychosocial support
The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency provides survivors with access to legal, medical and psychosocial services, as well as referrals, investigations, prosecutions and emergency shelter.

Mr Pedro said 175 survivors received free legal assistance through the agency’s lawyers, the Bureau of the Public Defender, private law firms and the Lagos Public Interest Law Partnership.

Another 40 survivors were accommodated at Eko Haven and other safe shelters.

The agency’s Clinical Psychology Department provided psychotherapy and counselling to 953 survivors, 267 perpetrators and 304 children.

It also carried out 501 rescue operations and assisted 46 persons with disabilities who experienced gender-based violence.

More than 711 cases were charged in court, while the Directorate of Public Prosecutions secured more than 160 convictions, Mr Pedro said.

Residents can report cases or seek assistance through the state’s Virtual Referral and Response Service, the *6820# USSD platform and the ASK INU WhatsApp chatbot.

Prevention campaign

The government said it was also expanding prevention efforts through communities, schools, markets and traditional institutions.

The DSVA stated that its sensitisation activities reached an estimated 1,964,559 residents across Lagos’ 20 local government areas.

More than 700 safeguarding and child protection officers across the state’s six education districts were trained, while over 1,000 primary and secondary school students participated in a safeguarding workshop.

The agency noted that more than 60,000 educators, parents and caregivers had also been reached through its Safeguarding and Child Protection Online Course.

It has established sub-offices in Kosofe and Ikorodu and engaged more than 50 traditional rulers and their chiefs on preventing sexual and gender-based violence.

The 2026 awareness campaign, themed “SGBV — It Ends With Us,” will run throughout September, with activities planned in communities, schools, workplaces, markets, health facilities and traditional institutions.

Mr Pedro stated that the ultimate measure of progress should be a reduction in the number of people experiencing violence, rather than simply fewer cases appearing in official records.

“Our goal is not lower reporting. Our goal is lower prevalence. We will only call it success when the wider evidence tells us fewer people are experiencing violence,” he said.

He urged survivors and members of the public to report cases through the state’s toll-free line, 0-8000-333-333, and called on families, neighbours, colleagues and institutions to act when they see signs of abuse.