Ogun State Records 502 Cases of Gender-Based Violence in 2025
The Ogun State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Adijat Adeleye, has disclosed that 502 cases of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) were recorded in the state in 2025. The cases include sexual assault, domestic abuse, child molestation, digital harassment, and intimate partner violence. According to Adeleye, the rising figure is alarming and underscores the need for stronger legal safeguards and coordinated institutional action to protect survivors and hold perpetrators accountable.
The commissioner revealed that 120 of the cases were reported at the State’s Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs), while the remaining cases were documented through area offices and partner organisations. However, she noted that many women and children still remain silent due to fear, stigma, or social pressure, and the figures only capture the portion of cases that reached government channels.
Adeleye expressed concern over the spike in digital-related abuse, including cyberbullying, online harassment, sextortion, and impersonation. She warned that technology has created a new frontier for abuse, allowing perpetrators to target victims remotely and anonymously. The commissioner highlighted the need for interventions to address the growing digital exposure of young people, which has left many vulnerable to online grooming, extortion, and emotional manipulation.
The Ogun State government has implemented several interventions in partnership with the State Economic Transformation Project and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). These include strengthening SARCs, expanding temporary shelters, and providing capacity-building for law enforcement officers, teachers, health workers, and social workers on digital safety and GBV response. The government has also expanded state-wide sensitisation programmes to dismantle cultural practices that normalise violence and strengthened Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) to assist young people understand personal safety, consent, and digital responsibility.
Adeleye identified slow judicial processes, family interference, underfunded survivor services, and weak inter-agency coordination as major institutional challenges undermining progress. She advocated for bold legal reforms to better support survivors, including safe termination options for rape and incest survivors and the classification of rape as a non-bailable offence.
The commissioner urged parents, teachers, digital platforms, and community leaders to take greater responsibility for safeguarding children and addressing online risks. She also encouraged men to act as allies in challenging harmful norms and supporting a violence-free society, noting that GBV prevention requires collective effort. The Ogun State government’s efforts to address GBV highlight the need for a multi-faceted approach to combat this complex issue and ensure the safety and well-being of women, girls, and vulnerable persons.