BREAKING THE SILENCE: REPORTING AND PROSECUTING CHILD ABUSE CASES IN LAGOS STATE

BREAKING THE SILENCE: REPORTING AND PROSECUTING CHILD ABUSE CASES IN LAGOS STATE

1.1 Background of the Study

Lagos State boasts the most developed legal and social-welfare infrastructure in Nigeria, yet child-abuse reporting and prosecution remain fraught with obstacles. Although the Child Rights Act (2003) criminalizes physical and sexual abuse, enforcement is undermined by limited public awareness, cumbersome reporting procedures, and reluctance among law-enforcement officials to pursue cases against families (Christian & Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect, 2015).

Research indicates that underreporting is endemic: victims fear stigmatization, families seek to handle matters privately, and police often lack specialized training in child-protection protocols (Afifi et al., 2016). Even when cases reach the courts, procedural delays and inadequate prosecution contribute to low conviction rates, eroding public trust in the justice system (Berkowitz, 2017). This environment perpetuates a culture of silence, leaving many abusers unaccountable and children unprotected.

 

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Despite legislative frameworks, Lagos State struggles to translate policy into effective action: official records vastly underestimate actual abuse incidence, and survivors frequently lack access to justice. Without systematic study of reporting pathways and prosecutorial challenges, reforms risk overlooking critical bottlenecks in the child-protection continuum.

 

1.3 Objectives of the Study

To map existing reporting mechanisms and legal procedures for child-abuse cases in Lagos State.

To identify barriers—cultural, institutional, and legislative—that hinder reporting and successful prosecution.

To propose integrated policy and capacity-building measures to strengthen child-protection response from initial report through case adjudication.

 

1.4 Research Questions

What formal and informal channels do victims and witnesses use to report child abuse in Lagos State?

Which factors—such as police training, court capacity, or public awareness—most significantly impede case progression from report to conviction?

What best-practice models can be adapted to Lagos to enhance reporting rates and prosecution effectiveness?

 

1.5 Significance of the Study

Justice Sector & Law Enforcement: Will receive evidence to tailor training, protocols, and resource allocation for child-protection units.

Policy Makers & Child-Protection Agencies: Insights to refine legislation and streamline reporting and adjudication processes.

Civil Society & Communities: Data to inform public-awareness campaigns and encourage community involvement in safeguarding children.

 

1.6 Scope and Limitation of the Study

Scope: Examination of police records, court documents, and interviews with stakeholders—victims, social workers, police officers, and magistrates—in Lagos State between 2022–2024.

Limitations:

Access Constraints: Confidentiality concerns may limit availability of case files and willingness of officials to discuss failures.

Selection Bias: Interviewees willing to participate may represent more progressive or engaged agencies.

 

1.7 Definition of Terms

Child-Abuse Reporting Mechanism: Formal or informal processes through which suspected abuse is communicated to authorities.

Prosecution Effectiveness: The ability of the justice system to secure convictions and appropriate sanctions for offenders.

Underreporting: The phenomenon where actual incidents exceed formally recorded cases.

Child-Protection Continuum: Sequential stages from incident reporting through investigation, prosecution, and survivor support.

Capacity-Building: Activities aimed at enhancing skills, systems, and resources of institutions involved in child protection.

 

List of References

Afifi, T. O., MacMillan, H. L., Boyle, M., Cheung, K., Taillieu, T., Turner, S., & Sareen, J. (2016). Child abuse and physical health in adulthood.

Berkowitz, C. D. (2017). Physical abuse of children. New England Journal of Medicine, 376(17), 1659–1666.

Christian, C. W., & Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect. (2015). The evaluation of suspected child physical abuse. Pediatrics, 135(5), e20150356.