The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) has condemned a viral social media video showing a mother and her children publicly mocking a young boy over bedwetting.
In the video, the family members are seen taking turns before the camera, speaking in Yoruba and stating that they are not the ones who wet the bed.
The boy, who appears to be the subject of the mockery, is made to speak last and identify himself as the one who bedwets.
Reacting to the video, the agency described the incident as an act of verbal and emotional abuse, stressing that bedwetting should never be used as a basis to shame, ridicule or humiliate a child.
“What we are seeing here is verbal and emotional abuse of a child. Bedwetting is not a reason to shame, ridicule, humiliate or publicly expose a child,” the agency said.
The DSVA stressed that children deserve to grow up in environments where they feel safe, loved and supported, particularly when dealing with challenges that may be beyond their control.
The agency further linked the incident to the need for greater awareness of child wellbeing and positive parenting.
“This is why we keep talking about child wellbeing and positive parenting. The adults responsible for raising children have a duty to protect their emotional and psychological wellbeing, not become the source of their pain,” it added.
The incident has also renewed concerns among educators and child advocates about the impact of public humiliation on children’s emotional wellbeing.
Education professionals have repeatedly stressed that discipline should not involve degrading or publicly shaming children, noting that such experiences can affect a child’s self-esteem, confidence and sense of safety.
Bedwetting, particularly among children, can occur for various reasons and should be addressed with patience and appropriate support rather than ridicule.
The agency’s intervention has therefore highlighted the responsibility of parents and caregivers to protect not only children’s physical safety but also their emotional and psychological wellbeing.
The viral video has continued to generate reactions online, with many Nigerians condemning the public humiliation of the child and calling for greater awareness of positive parenting practices.
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