A rights group, the Advocates for Children and Vulnerable Persons Network, has expressed concern over the provision of shelter for a 15-year-old girl (name withheld) who was allegedly defiled at Sawmill, in the Ifako-Gbagada area of Lagos State.

The group also lamented over the alleged rejection of the abused minor by the state Ministry of Youth and Social Development.

PUNCH Metro reported that the suspect, identified simply as Fred, was said to have repeatedly defiled the victim for two years, allegedly impregnated her twice, and also forced her to carry out an abortion at both times.

The act was allegedly perpetrated with the knowledge of the victim’s guardian who reportedly consulted an auxiliary nurse who performed the abortion.

The perpetrators were, however, arrested after the rights group reported the incident at the Ifako police station.

Speaking to our correspondent on Wednesday, the case manager at ACVPN, Jennifer Nwosu, recounted her struggles to secure a placement for the minor in the ministry’s safe house.

Nwosu said that despite providing the necessary documents required for such a request, she was turned down by the Ministry’s Child Protection Unit officials.

She said, “The minor’s shelter status was raised to the Lagos State Ministry of Youth And Social Development, Child Protection Unit, for speedy intervention on Friday 12th April 2024, by our case Manager, while the case was being heard at the Samuel Ilori Court House, Ogba Magistrate Court so that she would have a safe place to stay, avoid tutoring to change her given statements and also keep her on a place where she would get away from the traumatic events.

“The officials whom the case manager called, asked for the charge sheet of the case, a police extract of the case, and a letter from us, stating their role in the matter as required documents to enable them to place the minor in a shelter. They did not take her in that day, as they were rounding off work. The case manager got the stated documents and deposited them in the office of the Permanent Secretary as they had stated to her on Monday, 15th April 2024. I still met with stiff resistance as they said that the document they required was an extract from the Gender unit.”

Nwosu said she returned to the ministry with the Police extract document but it was also rejected by the officials who allegedly claimed that there was no specification from the IPO of the case asking that the minor be placed in a safe shelter.

According to her, a suggestion made to them on the need to call the officials of the Gender unit to get verification on the matter was rebuffed.

“This has not been helpful as even of Tuesday, April 16, 2024, the officials have failed to take calls or messages to address this issue,” she added.

She however called on the ministry’s commissioner, Bolaji Ogunlende, to take a closer look into the matter.

“We call on the Commissioner, Lagos State Ministry Of Youth and Social Development, and also the Permanent Secretary, Child Protection Unit in the ministry, to take a closer look into this matter, why a victim of a heinous crime who happens to be a minor, will not be granted a measure of safety to ensure her well being. Such an action, more likely than not, will lead to a compromise and natural death of the case, of not well handled and followed up.”

Reacting, Ogunlende explained that the minor was not rejected by the ministry.

The commissioner in a statement he signed on Wednesday evening said the ministry acceded to the request of the child to go home with her aunt.

The statement partly read, “On the 12th of April, 2024, The Child Protection Unit of the Ministry received a call concerning a potential need for shelter placement for a survivor of sexual abuse. We were informed by the caller that the matter had been reported at the Police Station, and the perpetrators were arrested, investigated, and are under police custody.

“The caller stated further that the Police had released the child to a relative. Because we take such reports seriously, the caller was invited to the office on Monday 15th April 2024 to give more information. The caller came with the survivor and the relative to the office. At that point, the child said she wanted to go home with her aunt while she waited for her mother in the village to pick her up.”

The commissioner further explained that even though the Police had released the child to her relatives, the caller representative of ACVPN insisted that the child should be placed in a shelter, contrary to the child’s wishes.

“We wish to categorically state that the Lagos State Government through the Ministry of Youth and Social Development is committed to working with Law Enforcement and Social Services Providers to ensure the safety and well-being of a minor who may be at risk.

“The Child’s Rights Law’s paramount objective is to safeguard the well-being of children, and this office being the appropriate authority recognized by the Law for its implementation will not ignore the wishes of a child in determining the child’s best interest.

He added that having expressed her desire to stay with her family members, the need for shelter was not deemed to be necessary in this instance.