The Lagos State Government says in the last one year it handled a total of four thousand and thirty-five cases ranging from rape, child abuse, sexual assault, sexual abuse, defilement, divorce, matrimonial issues and child’s custody and maintenance.

This is just as it vows not to shy away from prosecuting perpetrators of domestic violence crime no matter how highly placed in the society.

Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Adeniji Kazeem, who this known during a news briefing on the activities of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team,DSVRT, in the last one year, says government, through the agency, equally handled a total of one hundred and ninety-two cases.

Out of the one hundred and ninety-two cases, Kazeem says government handled eighty-nine domestic violence cases, sixty-two defilement cases, eighteen rape cases, six attempted rape, ten child neglect and seven child abuse cases, while ninety-two cases are presently being heard in court.

Kazeem says government under the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has a zero tolerance for issues relating to domestic violence and child abuse and will not relent until the scourge is reduced to the barest minimum.

He says agencies of government, including DSVRT, Office of Public Defender and the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, among others, are mandated to ensure that while perpetrators of the act are brought to justice, victims of domestic violence are given succor towards their rehabilitation.

According to him, as regards provision of shelter for victims, the Ministries of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and Youth and Social Development as well as strategic partners NGOs have played key roles in ensuring victims are evacuated to a safer environment of shelter homes.

Kazeem says all the victims of sexual assault received medical attention from Mirabel Centre and State Hospitals, and so far, fifty of such cases are charged to court.

He says the essence of the briefing today aside giving account of efforts of government in the one year, it is also a means to send a strong message across that government will not relent until the scourge is completely stamped out.

The Commissioner sound a note of warning that no matter how highly placed one is in the society, if you commit any domestic violence crime, Lagos State will go after you and prosecute you in court.

He assures that government will continue to build on its recent efforts and step up its campaign efforts to put the issue of domestic violence on the front burner.

To this end, the Attorney General says the DSVRT will on Friday, hold a free clinic for victims of domestic violence, rape at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa Secretariat, while they can seek counselling with trained professionals via their hotline on 08137960048.