Ogun State government has taken into custody, a young girl named Mistura Adebayo, found wandering around, for safety and commencement of medical tests, an intervention embarked upon to ascertain and assess her health in order to determine the appropriate care she requires.

This disclosure was made by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development following reports brought to the attention of the former Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Adijat Adeleye.

In view of the seriousness of the matter, Hon. Adeleye, thereafter contacted the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Adebimpe Obienu, who coordinated the deployment of social workers to the police station where the girl had been taken.

On arrival, the social workers were informed that Mistura had already been released to her grandmother, but was found wandering around the next day, a situation that prompted a fresh intervention that resulted in her being taken into government custody.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry thereafter assured the public that government would continue to take necessary steps to protect Mistura and provide appropriate and sustainable care arrangement in her best interests, while using the medium to advise members of the public to report cases of gender-based violence, child abuse, neglect, exploitation and other concerns affecting the safety and welfare of women and children.

She directed residents and members of the public to report such cases or seek assistance through its toll-free lines: Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, 0800 0000 666; Sagamu Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), 0800 0000 555; Ilaro SARC, 0800 0000 077; Ijebu-Ode SARC, 0800 0000 088; and Abeokuta SARC, 0800 0000 099.

Mrs. Obienu, opined that prompt reporting could help save lives and protect vulnerable persons, urging residents to speak up whenever they encountered situations that threatened the safety and welfare of women and children.