Child Rights Advocates Demand Urgent Action for Allegedly Tortured Seven-Year-Old Girl
The Advocates for Children and Vulnerable Persons Network (ACVPN) has issued an urgent appeal to the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development, calling for immediate intervention in the distressing case of a seven-year-old girl who is alleged to have suffered severe brutality at the hands of her biological father and stepmother. The child rights organisation is specifically requesting that the ministry provide safe shelter for the young victim, identified as Oladunjoye, who has spent over three months receiving medical treatment in hospital and cannot safely return to her family home.
Details of the Alleged Abuse and Medical Condition
According to Ebenezer Omejalile, Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of ACVPN, the organisation first became aware of the child's situation on January 22, 2026. The girl had been admitted to Ayodele Medical Center on January 20, where she remains under ongoing medical care. Omejalile emphasised the severity of the alleged abuse, which reportedly resulted in multiple lacerations across her body and has caused significant speech impairment. He has formally requested that the Permanent Secretary of the ministry urgently assess the victim's condition and circumstances.
The organisation has commended Ayodele Medical Center for providing essential care and noted that members of the public have also offered support to the child through the facility after learning about her harrowing condition. This community response highlights the widespread concern surrounding the case.
ACVPN's Efforts and Ministry's Response
ACVPN stated that it contacted officials from the ministry's child development department on both January 22 and January 25, submitting evidence of the alleged abuse and formally requesting urgent protective placement for the child to prevent further trauma. The group alleges that while the father was initially arrested before the child was taken to hospital, the stepmother remains at large.
Omejalile explained that the ministry's attention was drawn to the case initially, and they were waiting for the girl to recover. However, he noted that since her recovery, the ministry has failed to provide any alternative shelter or protective arrangement. "Officials of the ministry have assured the organisation that the matter would be handled through the Family Social Services (FSS) Annex office in Oko-Oba Local Council Development Area, but no concrete action has been taken so far," he stated.
A Passionate Call for Immediate Intervention
The organisation has described its appeal as a "passionate call" for immediate intervention, urging the ministry to ensure the child is placed in protective care and safeguarded from any further harm. ACVPN is currently awaiting a formal response from the ministry and has expressed hope that authorities will take decisive and prompt steps to secure the child's safety and overall wellbeing.
This case underscores critical issues in child protection systems and the urgent need for effective intervention by social services to prevent further victimisation of vulnerable children in Lagos State.
