Lagos Sends Strong Warning to Content Creators Using Children for Skits: "14 yrs Imprisonment"
- Under the Child’s Rights Law of Lagos State, adults found guilty of exploiting or sexually abusing children in digital content face up to 14 years in prison
- Authorities expressed deep concern over the "portrayal and involvement" of children in skits that damage their dignity
- The Commissioner for Youth and Social Development and the LSDSVA have pledged to work with law enforcement to track and prosecute creators that violates the law
The Lagos State Government has cautioned content creators and digital media producers against involving children in online content that violates child protection laws.
In a joint statement released on Monday, the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, and the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (LSDSVA), Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, expressed deep concern over what they described as the increasing portrayal of children in content that undermines their dignity and safety.
Source: Facebook
According to the statement, the government has observed a troubling trend in which minors are being featured in videos, skits, and other digital productions that expose them to harm, ridicule, or exploitation in the name of entertainment and online engagement.
The authorities reminded content creators that children are not props and that any form of depiction that places them in harmful or degrading situations goes beyond poor judgment and enters the realm of criminality.
“Content creators are encouraged to be mindful of the long-term psychological, emotional, and social impact such content may have on children, as well as the legal implications for adults responsible for producing or sharing it,” the statement read.
Laws content creators must not ignore
The Lagos State Government cited several existing laws that clearly prohibit the exploitation of minors. These include provisions of the Child’s Rights Law of Lagos State (2015), the Criminal Law of Lagos State (2015), and the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act (2015).
Officials explained that under these laws, creating, distributing, or profiting from content that sexualises, abuses, or endangers children is a serious criminal offence.
Specific sections prohibit exploitative child labour, physical and emotional abuse, sexual offences against minors, child p*rnography, cyberstalking, and online harassment.
The statement further noted that Section 32 of the Child’s Rights Act prescribes up to 14 years’ imprisonment for anyone found guilty of sexually abusing or exploiting a child.
The government stressed that there would be no leniency for offenders, regardless of their popularity or online following. It reaffirmed its zero-tolerance stance on all forms of child *buse and warned that ignorance of the law would not serve as a defence.
“We hereby reaffirm the Lagos State Government’s zero-tolerance stance against all forms of child *buse and remain committed to promoting responsible content creation and protecting children from harm,” the statement added.
Source: Getty Images
Content creator raises alarm over kidnapping attempt
Legit.ng earlier reported that a Nigerian content creator Iyo has shared a heart-wrenching account of his encounter with men he claimed were police officers and what they allegedly did to him.
In a post on his Instagram page, the skit maker said he was on his way to the gym when he was allegedly kidnapped and whisked away.
He added that the people who took him in a bus were dressed in police uniforms and were armed.
Source: Legit.ng
