Lagos agency condemns viral video mocking bedwetting child

The agency described the incident as an act of verbal and emotional abuse, emphasizing that bedwetting should not be a reason to shame, ridicule, or humiliate a child. The DSVA made this statement on its official X account in response to the 49-second TikTok clip. The video showed several women introducing themselves in relation to a person described as a bedwetter, speaking and gesturing before teasing a young boy.

The boy appeared shy and uncomfortable as the women surrounded him, playfully lifting him while laughing. One woman was seen waving cash. The accompanying audio featured the women repeatedly saying, "Emi ko ni atole o," meaning "I’m not the bedwetter," identifying themselves as the bedwetter’s mother, sisters, and other relatives.

Towards the end, one person admitted, "Emi ni atole" "I am the bedwetter", leading to the chant, "A pata mole, atole!" "We have caught him, bedwetter!". The DSVA reiterated that bedwetting does not justify exposing a child to ridicule and stressed that children deserve to grow up in safe, loved, and supported environments, especially when dealing with situations beyond their control.

The agency linked the issue to the need for greater awareness of child wellbeing and positive parenting, urging adults to protect children's emotional and psychological wellbeing. The video has sparked onli