By Florencemary Nwabueze
In a move to strengthen the fight against domestic and sexual violence, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, AIG Simeon Akpanudom in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department-FCID Annex, Lagos, has paid a working visit to the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency-DSVA, set to integrate Sex Offenders Register into police database, a move aimed at tracking offenders.
According to a statement published by the Force Public Relations Officer, ASP Mayegun Aminat on Thursday, the courtesy visit, took place at the DSVA headquarters in Ikoyi, and brought together top leadership from both institutions to discuss enhanced collaboration, survivor welfare, and the removal of bottlenecks hindering access to justice.
During the meeting, the Executive Secretary of DSVA, Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, welcomed the police delegation and praised the existing strategic partnership between the agency and the Nigeria Police Force. She stressed that victims of domestic and sexual violence require consistent psychological and legal support to recover from trauma.
Mrs. Vivour-Adeniyi noted that police diligence in investigation and prosecution has been instrumental in securing convictions. However, she appealed directly to AIG Akpanudom for the establishment of a dedicated Gender-Based Violence-GBV Desk within the FCID Annex, Lagos.
“We are requesting capacity-building programmes for detectives, support for furnishing the proposed office, and a more coordinated response from the apex investigative arm of the police,” she said. She added that improved inter-agency mechanisms have already led to higher survivor confidence and a reduction in secondary victimization.
In his response, AIG Akpanudom reaffirmed his department’s commitment to professionalism and objectivity in handling GBV cases. He welcomed the proposal for a GBV Desk, calling it a demonstration of the department’s dedication to synergy.
The AIG specifically commended the DSVA for its management of the Sexual Offenders Register, describing it as a laudable tool for monitoring offenders and promoting accountability.
“Integrating relevant conviction records from the Sexual Offenders Register into the Central Criminal Registry would significantly enhance documentation and ensure the continuous updating of criminal databases,” AIG Akpanudom stated. He explained that this integration would strengthen intelligence gathering and assist law enforcement in identifying and tracking serial offenders.
The meeting concluded with both parties renewing their commitment to a victim-centred approach and seamless inter-agency response to domestic and sexual violence across Lagos State.