During the review period, the Lagos State government increased the tempo of its fight against child abuse, trafficking, neglect and abandonment with 1,437 cases of child protection recorded and over 5,708 interventions across the state.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende announced this in Alausa, Ikeja at the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing to mark the third year of the second term of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The interventions are part of the state government’s determination to strengthen child protection systems and protect vulnerable children from abuse, exploitation, violence and neglect, Channels TV reports Ogunlende said.
The Child Protection Unit recorded 1,437 reported child protection cases involving abuse, trafficking, abandonment, neglect and other welfare concerns across Lagos State during the period under review.
He said the team has provided over 5,708 child protection services with rescue operations, investigations, legal interventions, counselling, rehabilitation, placement services and psychosocial support for affected children and families.
Ogunlende said: “520 cases were successfully closed with various disposition pathways, which is a reflection of the Ministry’s commitment to ensuring meaningful outcomes and protection of vulnerable children.
The minister cited several high-profile rescue operations by the ministry following widespread social media claims of child abuse and neglect.
The minister said that the Ministry, in partnership with the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Agency and the Nigeria Police Force, rescued two children following a viral video that depicted their mother physically beating one of the children with wires, knives and other objects.
“The children were immediately removed from the abusive situation and placed in an approved home for care and protection while the mother was arrested, charged before a court and remanded,” he said.
“Another three-year-old child was rescued, too, Ogunlende disclosed, after a disturbing viral video showed the child drinking dirty water in a very neglected condition.
“The child was traced, rescued, taken for medical treatment and later placed in an approved orphanage while the grandmother involved in the abuse was arrested and arraigned before the court,” he said.
According to the commissioner, the ministry also rescued two male youngsters who had been kept in the house for more than two months by their father and stepmother without proper nourishment or access to education after a whistleblower contacted the ministry.
He said the youngsters were put in protective custody while social investigations continued to seek suitable family members to reintegrate the children.
The ministry also rescued a youngster with special needs who was reportedly used online by a social media influencer to beg cash from members of the public, Ogunlende said.
The boy was relocated to a specialized care center where he was receiving therapy and rehabilitation help, he said.
The commissioner said the Sanwo-Olu administration was committed to defending the rights of children through increased engagement with schools, health institutions, family courts, security agencies and stakeholders in the community.
He reiterated that the government would continue to take tough legal actions against parents, guardians, carers and institutions implicated in child abuse, trafficking, exploitation or neglect all throughout Lagos State.
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