Lagos Reports Over 3,600 Domestic Violence Cases as State Intensifies Awareness Campaign
As Lagos State commemorates September as Domestic and Sexual Violence Awareness Month, fresh data from the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) has revealed the scale of interventions carried out between August 2024 and July 2025.
According to the report, the agency attended to more than 400 clients monthly and recorded 3,685 cases of domestic violence within the period under review.
It also handled 243 cases of defilement, 244 cases of child abuse/physical assault, and 99 rape cases. Other incidents included 48 sexual harassment cases, 25 sexual assaults by penetration, 41 cyber harassment reports, 32 threats to life, and 726 family-related disputes involving custody, neglect, abduction, and child labour.
The data further revealed that survivors ranged from an 18-month-old infant, the youngest recorded, to a 79-year-old woman. To support victims, DSVA facilitated free legal aid for 146 survivors, working with in-house lawyers, the Bureau of Public Defender, private law firms, and the Lagos Public Interest Law Partnership.
On healthcare response, the agency ensured that all sexual assault survivors received treatment at General Hospitals, Primary Health Centres, and referral centres such as Mirabel Centre, WARIF, and Idera Centre. Additionally, 30 survivors were sheltered at Eko Haven and other safe facilities, while more than 1,487 survivors and 249 abusers underwent psychotherapy and counseling through DSVA’s Clinical Psychology Department.
The agency also conducted 402 rescue operations and recorded over 140 convictions during the review period, reinforcing the state government’s zero-tolerance policy on gender-based violence.
Beyond interventions, the agency said it directly and indirectly reached 6.3 million residents across all 20 local government areas of Lagos through door-to-door campaigns, market sensitization drives, community development association meetings, and school outreach programmes.
The Lagos State Government noted that the observance of Domestic and Sexual Violence Awareness Month provides an opportunity to intensify advocacy, ensure justice for survivors, and strengthen community participation in tackling gender-based violence.
