Lagos state govt adopts toddlers defiled by father’s co-workers

The Lagos State Government has taken custody of the two sisters who were allegedly defiled by their father’s co-workers.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Lola Akande, said the children had been rescued from the abusive environment and taken to one of the state’s homes for children for proper rehabilitation and care.
The PUNCH had reported that the two victims, aged three and five, were staying with their father, Ayodele Ekundayo, who worked in a cement factory in the Fagba area of the state.

Ekundayo reportedly left the sisters in the care of his five co-workers, who also lived in the factory with him.

The men, whose ages range from 24 to 33, allegedly took advantage of the girls and defiled them.

Ekundayo said he discovered the rape after his daughters started complaining of pains in their private parts.

The suspects were subsequently arrested and paraded by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

In a statement on Thursday, Akande said the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation had taken custody of the victims, and would be responsible for their upkeep and education.

“The ministry is working with the NSCDC to ensure that the perpetrators of the crime do not go scot-free and are prosecuted according to the law of the state,” she added.

She commended the non governmental organisation that brought the children’s plight to public attention and urged Lagos residents to be vigilant and report any case of child abuse or domestic violence in their vicinity to the ministry.

The commissioner, who promised that the ministry would assist parents whose circumstances made their children susceptible to molestation, enjoined parents and guardians to create time for their children and monitor their activities at home and in schools.

“This present administration will assist the victims’ father to be gainfully employed by enrolling him in one of the ministry’s skill acquisition centres to learn a vocation after which he will be empowered to practise the trade upon the completion of his training,” she added.