The Lagos State Government has upgraded five additional police divisions into Family Support Units, FSUs as part of efforts to strengthen the investigation and response to domestic and sexual violence cases across the state.
The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, DSVA, in partnership with the Lagos State Police Command, upgraded the divisions in Isheri, Idimu, Meiran, Ijesha and Iju-Red House.
The development brings additional police units into the state’s response system for Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), with officers trained to improve case investigation, evidence gathering, reporting and referrals for survivors.
Twenty-four police officers from the newly upgraded units and the Gender Desk of the Lagos State Police Command participated in a two-day capacity-building programme organised by the DSVA from September 3 to 4, 2026, at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry Conference and Exhibition Centre, Alausa-Ikeja.
The training focused on the investigation and prosecution of SGBV cases, including evidence preservation, police reporting, forensic evidence, medical reports, child-friendly interviewing and referral pathways for survivors.
Participants were also trained on handling cases involving women, men and children, as well as human rights principles, relevant legal frameworks and inter-agency collaboration.
The Executive Secretary of the DSVA, Mrs Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, commended officers serving in the Family Support Units and Gender Desks for their efforts to protect survivors and support access to justice.
Vivour-Adeniyi said professional and effective investigation of SGBV cases was critical to ensuring accountability, strengthening public confidence and improving outcomes for survivors.
She urged the officers to apply survivor-centred approaches in their engagement with victims, including respect, empathy, supportiveness, openness, positivity and non-judgmental conduct.
The training also addressed the investigation of child sexual abuse cases, preservation of evidence, forensic medical examinations, interpretation of medical reports and timely referrals.
Facilitators included professionals from law enforcement, medicine, criminal justice, prosecution and survivor support, among them retired DSP Kenneth Emegwamor Okafor, Dr Oluwajimi Sodipo, Mr Babajide Boye and Mrs Oluwatumininu Oni, Head of Case Management at the DSVA.
The DSVA said the programme also emphasised collaboration among law enforcement agencies, healthcare providers, prosecutors and other service providers involved in supporting survivors.
Participants were sensitised to services available across the state, including Sexual Assault Referral Centres, shelters, healthcare services, psychosocial support and legal assistance.
At the end of the programme, participants called for sustained capacity-building for law enforcement officers and stronger legal protection for parents of sexually abused children against threats and intimidation.