The Lagos State Police Command says it recorded 111 defilement cases between April and June 2023.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed this to journalists on Wednesday.
Mr Hundeyin said the command was concerned about the increasing number of defilement cases in the state.
He said that 14 rape cases and 56 cases of domestic violence were recorded within the same period.
The police image-maker said 99 suspects were charged to court within the period.
He further said 83 cases were under investigation, showing the command’s commitment to prosecuting any domestic and gender-based violence in Lagos State.
Mr Hundeyin said the remodelling of the command’s gender unit by CP Idowu Owohunwa indicated his commitment to deal decisively with gender-based violence culprits.
He said more officers had been trained and added to the unit to improve investigations on gender-based violence cases.
The police spokesperson appealed to the public to always speak out when abused or when they witnessed gender and sexual abuses around them and assured that the command would rise to protect their rights.
Meanwhile, a visually impaired man, Francis Ugachukwu, has been remanded in the Kirikiri Correctional Centre for allegedly defiling a 13-year-old girl (name withheld).
Justice Abiola Soladoye of the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court remanded the defendant pending a hearing and filing of his bail application.
The judge adjourned the case until October 18 for a hearing of the bail application and commencement of trial.
Mr Ugachukwu was arraigned on one count charge of defilement.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
According to the state counsel, Abimbola Abolade, the defendant committed the offence sometime in November 2022 on No. 16 Kareem Giwa St., Abule-Osun, Ojoo, Lagos.
According to the prosecution, the offence contravened section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
The defendant risks life imprisonment if found guilty.
(NAN)