Child Rights Group Calls for Urgent Protection of Seven-Year-Old Allegedly Abused by Parents in Lagos
Advocates for Children and Vulnerable Persons Network (ACVPN) has appealed to the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development to urgently intervene in the case of a seven-year-old girl, identified as Oladunjoye, who was allegedly subjected to severe abuse by her biological father and stepmother.
The group is requesting that the ministry provide protective shelter for the affected child after she spent over three months receiving medical care at Ayodele Medical Center.
ACVPN co-founder and Chief Operating Officer Ebenezer Omejalile stated that Oladunjoye sustained serious injuries, including multiple lacerations and speech impairment, and has been under treatment since her admission to the hospital on January 20, 2026.
The organisation first reported the case to ministry officials on January 22 and 25, submitting evidence to ensure immediate protective placement for the affected child. While the father has been arrested, the stepmother remains at large.
Omejalile noted that, despite assurances from the ministry that the matter would be handled through the Family Social Services (FSS) Annex office in Oko-Oba Local Council Development Area, no concrete action has been taken to provide alternative shelter or safeguard the child from further harm.
The group described the appeal as a “passionate call” for swift intervention, stressing the importance of immediate protection and long-term care for the affected child. Public support has aided her medical treatment, but ACVPN insists that formal placement in a safe environment is urgently needed.
Child protection advocates emphasise that cases like Oladunjoye’s reveal persistent gaps in child safeguarding systems in Lagos, highlighting the need for timely government action, effective monitoring, and safe housing for children affected by abuse. ACVPN continues to follow up with the ministry and urges decisive steps to ensure the affected child’s safety and wellbeing.
