The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency has condemned a viral social media video in which a child was publicly mocked over bedwetting, describing the act as verbal and emotional abuse.

The agency, in a statement posted on its official X account on Saturday, said bedwetting should not be used as a reason to shame, ridicule, humiliate or publicly expose a child.

The 49-second TikTok video showed several women introducing themselves as relatives of a person described as a bedwetter before joining together to tease a young boy dressed in traditional attire.

The boy appeared uncomfortable as the women surrounded him, hugged, grabbed and lifted him while laughing. One of the women was also seen waving cash during the episode.

The accompanying audio repeatedly featured the women saying, “Emi ko ni atole o,” meaning “I’m not the bedwetter,” before identifying themselves as the child’s mother, sisters, cousins and other relatives.

Towards the end of the video, one person admitted, “Emi ni atole,” meaning “I am the bedwetter,” after which the group chanted, “A pata mole, atole!” meaning “We have caught him, bedwetter.”

Reacting to the footage, the DSVA said, “What we are seeing here is verbal and emotional abuse of a child.”

The agency stressed that children should grow up in environments where they feel safe, loved and supported, particularly when dealing with conditions or experiences they may not be able to control.

It said the incident underscored the importance of child wellbeing and positive parenting, adding that adults responsible for children had a duty to protect their emotional and psychological wellbeing rather than become a source of distress.

The video has generated mixed reactions online, with some viewers describing the incident as harmless family banter, while others criticised the adults for publicly embarrassing the child over an issue he might not be able to control.