Most child sexual abuses involve fathers, daughters

EDO State Government says it is currently attending to over 72 cases of child abuse, with most of the sexual abuse cases involving fathers and their minor daughters.

The State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Eugenia Abdallah, disclosed this while giving an account of the ministry’s activities between October 2025 and August 2026 at a news conference on Thursday in Benin.

Abdallah said the ministry is placing keen attention on the rehabilitation of victims, while pursuing prosecution of offenders.

“In response to child abuse and sexual exploitation, the ministry responded to serious cases, including allegations involving two sisters and an 11-year-old girl. We provided protective medical and psychosocial support, while the cases were referred for investigation and prosecution,” she said.

The commissioner said the ministry had inaugurated a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SAC) in Uromi, Edo Central, in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration.

She added that work was ongoing to establish another centre in Auchi to ensure that all three senatorial districts of the state have a SAC centre.

To address technology-facilitated abuse, Abdallah said the ministry conducted awareness campaigns on cyberbullying, online harassment, and digital exploitation, culminating in the validation of the Technology-Facilitated GBV Policy Framework in June 2026.

On child welfare, she said the ministry introduced a digital child welfare case management system to improve documentation, case tracking and monitoring of children in orphanages.

“The 2026 Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy was also reviewed to address online exploitation, AI risks and institutional abuse. Following the incident at Igbenedion Primary and Secondary School, the Child Rights Implementation Committee adopted a work plan and set up a school monitoring subcommittee.

“In April 2026, the ministry also shut down an allegedly illegal children’s home in Owan East Local Government and handed the operator over to law enforcement. The ministry further rescued a newborn in Ubiaja and reunited three children with their families,” she said.

On women empowerment and health, Abdallah said 171 women across the three senatorial districts received business and digital marketing training, followed by N100,000 grant each to strengthen their businesses. NAN