The Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) in Lagos State has confirmed the arrest and arraignment of a 73-year-old man before the Samuel Ilori Magistrate Court for allegedly defiling a 5-year-old girl.
In a Tuesday statement, the DSVA quoted its Executive Secretary, Mrs TitiLola Vivour-Adeniyi as confirming this in her office at Novel House, Jobi Fele Way, CBD, Ikeja.
She added that the suspect has been remanded at the Kirikiri correctional centre, pending the directorate of public prosecution’s legal advice.
It was alleged that the suspect was caught in action when a neighbor who has been suspecting him before the incident, recorded him perpetrating the act.
The mother of the survivor was reported to have been separated from the father of the survivor six months ago and that she alongside the survivor visited the alleged perpetrator, who is a family friend on December 14.
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The alleged perpetrator asked the mother of the survivor to get foodstuff for him and left the 5 yea92r old survivor in the house with him.
According to the mother of the survivor, on getting back to the house, she was shown a video of her daughter being defiled by the alleged perpetrator.
The mother also claimed the survivor complained about feeling pain in her private part four months ago but she thought it was an infection.
Vivour-Adeniyi reiterated the state’s zero tolerance for all forms of child abuse, insisting perpetrators would be prosecuted in the event of these crimes.
She reassured all Lagos State residents of the commitment of Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu’s administration in upholding the tenets of safeguarding and child protection.
The executive secretary called on the residents in the state to break the culture of silence by reporting cases of all forms of abuse through the toll free number 0-8000-333-333 or walk into the DSVA Office at Novel House, Jobi Fele Way, Central Business District, Ikeja.