By Dorathy Aninge

The Benue Government has reiterated its stance on the establishment of state police as a sustainable solution to the persistent insecurity in the state.

Gov. Hyacinth Alia stated this on Wednesday at the town hall meeting with President Bola Tinubu, who is in the state to commiserate with the people of Benue over the recent attack on a community.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that more than 200 people were killed, scores injured, and houses and properties destroyed in the June 13 attack on Yelwata, Guma Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

Alia noted that though there were concerns about the implementation, the Federal Government could spell out guidelines and regulatory frameworks to prevent its misuse.

“We humbly urge the Federal Government to consider establishing a special intervention fund for communities affected by the incessant attacks.

“Such funds would go a long way to support the rehabilitation of those displaced from their ancestral homes.

“These funds can also restore the livelihood of the farmers and their families as government would keep working to ensure that the people are not only safe, but can thrive on their land.

“We want to thank the security agencies in Benue for their efforts, but we solicit for more security measures to be taken to confront the challenges at hand as the attacks on the peace loving people of Benue have persisted for a decade.

“It, however, looks like a calculated attempt to annihilate the people of Benue and take over their ancestral homes,” Alia said.

The governor said that the visit of service chiefs and other security formations had given the people a ray of hope that there could be lasting peace and they would not be subjected to further inhumane actions.

“We want to thank Mr President for taking time out to come and mourn with the people of Benue as we believe this would bring an end to the security challenges that have persisted.

“Even though our hearts are heavy over the loss of our loved ones and ancestral homes, our hope is ignited by your visit.

“We thank Mr President for cancelling other engagements of concern to visit the people of Benue after the Yelwata attack as this is a true demonstration of leadership,” he said.

The governor prayed for the repose of the souls of those who lost their lives during the attack and expressed hope for a better Benue. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Remi Koleoso/Nyisom Fiyigon Dore

By Oluwatope Lawanson

The Lagos State Government has taken legislative steps to tackle child exploitation in domestic labour, warning that such exploitation should be treated as domestic violence.

The Executive Secretary, Lagos State Law Reform, Mrs Oluyemisi Ogunlola, made this known at the celebration of 2025 World Day Against Child Labour in Ikeja on Wednesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event had the theme: “Ending Child Exploitation and Upholding Dignity: A Case Study of Exploitative Child Domestic Work in Lagos State”.

The event was organised by the Devatop Centre for Africa Development and the Talkam.

In a keynote address, Ogunlola said that exploitative child domestic work was domestic violence and must be treated as such by the law and the society.

The executive secretary said that children often recruited from rural communities within and outside Lagos State were often forced into arduous, unsafe and exploitative conditions.

According to her, such children were cut off from education, exposed to physical and sexual violence, and denied the fundamental dignity that every child deserves.

Ogunlola noted that psychological trauma through isolation, neglect and abuse left lifelong emotional scars on such children.

She added that many of them endured injuries or illnesses arising from hazardous tasks.

She said that there had been efforts made by the state government to tackle such.

“The Domestic Staff Service Providers (Registration) Law, 2019, which mandates registration of domestic service providers to regulate recruitment into domestic work, requires employers to engage only registered providers, ensuring that children are not trafficked into domestic work.

“Also, the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) is a dedicated agency to combat all forms of domestic and sexual violence.

“It provides direct legal, medical and psychological support to victims, manages temporary shelters, and runs extensive public awareness campaigns across the state,” she said.

She added that the Lagos State Child Rights Law (2007) prohibited all forms of child exploitation, guaranteed children’s rights to education, protection from abuse, and development.

“These laws reflect Lagos State’s serious intent to eradicate this injustice, but like many societal challenges, implementation gaps remain,” Ogunlola said.

She said that the Domestic Staff Service Providers Law (DSPR) and the DSVA Law must be fully operationalised with inter-agency cooperation.

She said that there was cultural acceptance of child domestic labour as a means of “helping poor families,” but noted that there was weak reporting systems at the community level.

She said that there was fragmented coordination among enforcement agencies and civil society as well as limited rehabilitation infrastructure for rescued children.

“We must strengthen collaboration between relevant government agencies: DSVA, Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Office of the Public Defender, Lagos State Ministry of Justice,” she said.

In his address of welcome, the Head of Resource Mobilisation at Devatop, Mr Bemshima Abako, urged the Federal Government to tackle child labour as a form of domestic violence.

Abako said it was time to broaden public education on domestic violence to include child domestic servitude as a recognised form of abuse deserving urgent intervention.

He said there was need for stronger partnerships between government, non-governmental organisations, faith institutions and the private sector in the prosecution of abusers and traffickers to send a strong signal that exploitation would no longer be tolerated.

Abako added that stakeholders must dismantle the culture of silence surrounding domestic exploitation ‘because childhood must never be sacrificed on the altar of convenience or poverty’. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ijeoma Popoola