The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) has announced its intervention in a 25-year long domestic violence by a man on his wife.
Coordinator of the DSVRT, Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, in a statement she signed on Sunday, said the case became public when a relative of the victim spoke out to the media on the ordeal.
She said her office immediately proceeded to contact the victim, Mrs. Oridota Oladele, a 63-year-old and bread winner of her home, to enlighten her on her rights, support services at her disposal, and ascertain what she wanted out of the situation.
“The Director of Citizens’ Rights, Mrs Omotilewa Ibirogba, with other team members met with her, and she insisted that all she required was officials of government to talk to her husband to desist from acts of physical, psychological, emotional and verbal abuses which are all crimes contrary to the Prevention Against Domestic Violence Law, 2007.
“A referral letter was subsequently done to Isokoko Police Station which is a representative of the Police Force in DSVRT and houses a Family Support Unit. Some members of the team also accompanied the victim to the station where the matter was duly reported.
“Upon her making her report, police officers in company of DSVRT members went to the couple’s place of residence for the purpose of transporting the husband to the station for questioning and cautioning,” Vivour-Adeniyi said.
According to her, a Memorandum of Undertaking was signed at the station by the victim’s husband that he would desist from domestic violence or he would be arrested and a Protection Order gotten against him.
“The Ministry of Health, also a member of DSVRT was informed of the case and are working on taking up her treatment free of charge as the victim is in need of constant medical attention and care,” she said.
Vivour-Adeniyi said The Ben Bruce Foundation, one of DSVRT’s partners, upon hearing Mrs. Oladele’s situation pledged to support her as her means of livelihood has been affected by her predicament.
The DSVRT coordinator added that the progress of the couple will continue to be monitored by the team and the police.
She reiterated her call to family members, neighbours and concerned citizens to assist victims of domestic violence by reporting to the police station or the DSVRT,
“We also use this medium to restate that the Lagos State Government has a zero tolerance for domestic and sexual violence and therefore urge victims to come out, speak up and get the desired assistance before it is too late,” she concluded.
