A women advocacy group, the Lady of Africa Empowerment and Advocacy Foundation (LAEAF) has called on governments at all levels to ensure the rights of girl-child are protected amidst rampant cases of domestic sexual abuses of young girls.
While reacting to increase in cases of sexual abuses of teenagers, founder of the group, Princess Oluwabukola Fasuyi, said it was disheartening to hear cases of fathers sexually molesting their daughters.
According to her, children who are victims of such abuses ended up becoming wayward and live with the psychological effects of the abuse for the rest of their lives.
Citing the case of a 14-year-old girl at Meiran area of Lagos State, who was sexually molested several times by her father before she was rescued by the organisation, Princess Fasuyi said the victim was currently battling with the trauma, having been introduced to a wayward as a result of her father’s action.
She added the organisation was making every efforts to assist the victim recover from the abuse and has enrolled her in one of the government’s school in the state.
According to Fasuyi, “It’s high time government ensured the right of girl child are protected. It’s disturbing when you hear stories of fathers sleeping with their daughters.
“We have a case of a 14 year old girl who was sexually abused by her father. At times the girl would ran out of the house in the middle of the night whenever the father wanted to sleep with her. This happened on several occasions.
“When we got wind of it, we had to rescue the girl and report the matter to the police. The father was arrested, charger to court, and is currently in prison custody while the case is going on in court.
“The action has made the girl wayward but the organisation is trying to re-orientate her and give her a new life,” she said.
Fasuyi also cited the case of a 17-year-old girl, Motunrayo, who was rescued in Epe area of Lagos State after being sexually molested by her father on several occasions.
The victim’s plight was brought to the attention of Lady of Africa Foundation by another Foundation based, in Epe, Athe ll Fulfilment Foundation.
Lady of Africa Foundation promptly took over her welfare.
According to Princess Fasuyi, her organisation reported the matter to the police and the father was arrested. The case is said to be presently in court.
“We are urging the government to pay more attention to women by empowering them. It’s said when you build a woman, you build a nation.
“Many young girls who grow up to be wayward are victims of domestic abuses from childhood. Government must ensure violators are brought to book.
“Law enforcement agencies must ensure violators are prosecuted and justice is served to victims.
“The girl-child should be educated while parents, especially mothers should pay adequate attention to their daughters to protect them from randy father’s,” she urged.
The Lady of Africa Empowerment and Foundation is a non-governmental organisation committed to the empowement and rapid development of women.
Over the years, the Foundation had been involved in several cases involving the welfare of women.
In 2009, the Foundation rescued one Dupe Olowoyo, a widowed and single mother of two who was down with cancer of the vagina. Several millions of Naira were spent on her treatment by the Foundation before she was cured of the disease, and was later empowered by the Foundation.
Likewise one Yinka Popoola, a single mother of four, who was treated of cancer of the mouth by the Foundation.
