LASG URGES LAGOSIANS TO KICK AGAINST CHILD ABUSE
Lagos State Government has called on all residents to support the drive of the present administration in its fight against child abuse so as to ensure that children, being the future leaders, are adequately taken care of.
Speaking at the 1st quarterly meeting of the Multi-Legal Aid Forum held at the Office of the Public Defender (OPD) in Surulere, the Director, Mrs. Olubukola Salami emphasized that the State Government has zero tolerance for insecurity of the residents, especially children, and as such will not rest on its oars to ensure a free society where the vulnerable are given ultimate priority and protection.
She stated that one of the major successes recorded last year through the forum was the release of 80 children from Badagry Prison, 49 in Kirikiri Medium Prison and 13 girls in Kirikiri Female Prison.
Salami added that while 499 children were represented, 350 were released through the intervention of the OPD and some agencies of government while 149 matters are ongoing.
According to her, “OPD, in conjunction with some agencies of government and some members of this forum ensured that the children released were reunited with their families. I am pleased to inform you that the graphic presentation of the situation of the children at the prison to stakeholders kick-started different reforms on this issue”.
The Director (OPD) said that different stakeholders meetings to profer solutions to the issue of children in custody resulted in the directive given to Magistrates to ensure that children must not be kept in adult prisons.
She pointed out that the Multi-Tier Legal Aid Forum was solely for cases involving children, especially those in conflict with the law, stressing that children are not the only vulnerable group in the society who require legal services.
Salami revealed that “OPD intends to focus on other vulnerable members of our society. We will not abandon the children, we want to ensure that the successes achieved with children will be replicated to others to make Lagos a better place for all residents irrespective of their means and status in society”.