The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) has disclosed that it receives over 450 domestic violence-related complaints every month through its hotlines, social media platforms, and online channels.

The agency’s executive secretary, Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, made the disclosure during a stakeholders’ engagement and technical training organised by the Lagos State Command and Control Centre in Ikeja.

According to her, the agency records between 400 and 450 fresh cases monthly, noting that domestic and sexual violence remain significantly underreported despite the rising number of complaints being received.

“We know we’ve not scratched the surface because these issues remain some of the most under-reported crimes globally, but we are encouraged that more people now have faith in the system,” she said.

Vivour-Adeniyi stated that more survivors are now seeking help through emergency lines, agency offices, and social media platforms.

She explained that the agency operates a 24-hour gender-based violence virtual referral response service in partnership with emergency responders, ensuring that victims can access immediate assistance and psychosocial support at any time through the 203 emergency line.

The DSVA boss stressed that domestic violence goes beyond physical abuse, noting that emotional and verbal abuse are also recognised offences under Lagos State law.

“The fact that the abuse is not physical does not make it less harmful. People should not die in silence,” she said.

She also warned parents against concealing sexual abuse cases involving minors, stressing that failure to report such crimes attracts legal consequences.

According to her, parents found guilty of covering up sexual offences risk up to three years imprisonment under the law.

Vivour-Adeniyi urged families and members of the public to promptly report abuse cases and make use of available support services to ensure survivors receive justice, protection, and proper care.

Socialite and businessman Pascal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, has claimed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not fully trust him because of his previous support for Peter Obi during the 2023 presidential election.

The celebrity barman made the remarks during a livestream session with popular streamer Peller in a video that surfaced online on Wednesday.

Speaking partly in pidgin English, Cubana Chief Priest said the president still views him with suspicion because he openly backed Obi and the Labour Party in the last election.

“President Bola Tinubu no really trust me as an Igbo man that I am. He look me with one eye because he believes that this one that worked for Peter Obi before at the last election,” he said.

The businessman, who currently serves as the Imo State Coordinator of the Pro-Tinubu City Boys Movement, explained that he later switched allegiance because he did not want to remain on the losing side politically.

Asked why he abandoned Obi’s camp, he replied, “Because I don’t want to lose again because they say first fool no be fool, na the second fool be proper fool.”

Cubana Chief Priest was among prominent entertainers who openly campaigned for Obi and the Labour Party before the 2023 elections. He has since aligned himself with the ruling All Progressives Congress and President Tinubu.

President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has declared that the Nigerian government will end killings in the country.

Bwala made the rremark while maintaining that Nigerians reserve the right to defend themselves with lethal weapons against aggressors in their houses.

He spoke on Arise Television on Wednesday in reaction to the killings in Esiele community in Orire

Local Government Area of Oyo State

On Friday, gunmen had invaded the LA Primary school where teachers and pupils were abducted.

Reacting, Bwala said: “Solution is what we all look to, evil men operate anywhere in the world, no matter how tight you are as a government.

“You do your best and expect that with the help of God and collective participation of the people through collective intelligence we will be able to put an end to it.

“I know the Nigerian people will continue to complain. So because if for example, no matter how we say that we are sorry and the incident happened again people will complain, cry and mourn because it’s the life of the Nigerian people that are taken away by the evil element. We will put an end to this as a people.

“Every eve of elections in Nigeria from 2014, 2018, 2022, and now 2026 you will see that crisis increases because of the idea of a crisis economy. A lot of people take advantage of that but the will and spirit of the collective people is what will put an end to this situation.

“The constitution has guarantee to every citizen of Nigeria the right to self defense, you have the right to defend yourself.

“When your right, my right, and that of my neighbour is put together, it becomes collective right to defend ourselves and Nigerians have the right to defend themselves.

“If you come to my house to try to kill me, any lethal weapon I use to defend myself is guaranteed by the constitution.

“Number two as a people we have vigilante and in Borno State we have paramilitary organizations that provide intelligence to law enforcement.

“Nigerians don’t have the right to bear certain arms unless those arms are permitted but the collective people can come together to apply to the government for the right to coordinate themselves.”