Oyo Police Warns Against Child Molestation, Says 73 Cases Recorded In 2023

The Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Adebola Hamzat has lamented over the rising cases of child molestation in the state.

According to him, a total of 73 cases of child molestation have been recorded in Oyo State, this year.

He said sixty-two out of the 73 cases have been charged to court, with 83 suspects being prosecuted, while the remaining 11 are under investigation.

The CP made the disclosure on Thursday while speaking with journalists after a meeting with the wife of the Oyo State Governor, Mrs Tamunominini Makinde.

The meeting was part of events marking 16 days of activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV).

He noted that cases of child molestation were treated as criminal matters irrespective of who was behind the bad act.

Hamzat vowed that the police command would not sweep under the carpet cases of child molestation, and would ensure justice for the survivors or victims.

He, however, enjoined parents to be more circumspect and effectively safeguard their children, wards against predators.

Hamzat said: “We have got a lot of cases especially molestation of children by relatives. We have about 73 cases we have recorded this year and we have sent about 62 cases to court, they are still being prosecuted. 11 are under investigation.

“For the 62 cases sent to court, we have 83 suspects, they are also standing trial. In Oyo State, any case of child molestation be it by the father, or brother, shall never be swept under the carpet. We shall attend to it the way it should be attended to as criminal matters, and we shall pursue it to the last, that justice is delivered to the survivors or victims if they die.

“The era where you think being members of family you can do anything unlawful and go has gone.

“No family connection whatsoever shades you; if you commit anything gender-based violence whether to your child, or relation, the law will take its cause. The police will never allow such a case to be swept under the carpet. If you commit crime, the law will take its course and you shall face the full wrath of the law.”