RISING CASES OF RAPE IN NIGERIA

In simplest form of the layman’s understanding; rape is ‘sexual intercourse without valid consent.’ The World Health Organisation (WHO) described it in 2002 as "physically forced or otherwise coerced penetration – even if slight – of the vulva or anus, using a penis, other body parts or an object.”

Rape in Nigeria seems to have assumed a hydra-headed complex, defying solution. Government forces seem lethargic on actions to take to curtail the rise.

Rape leaves a victim psychologically traumatised, with long-term effect and higher risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases and HIV.

In 2012, in Ibadan, Dr. Omolara Smith, President, Zonta Club II, said that cases of rape had gone up from 12.5 to 84 percent in Nigeria. Since she made that observation, rape has not only increased, but rape stories and cases have become permanent features in most national dailies, hospitals and police stations.

These days, we read about rape cases every day in Nigeria. Perhaps the worst case scenario in Nigeria today, is the kidnap and rape of over 276 schoolgirls from Chibok in April 2014. Let’s also not forget horrifying cases of fathers, who are supposed to be protectors of their daughters, becoming the invaders.

Speaking on rape recently on his website, former Nigerian Force Spokesman, Mr. Frank Mba said: “Statistics from four states of the federation-Ogun, Oyo, Lagos and Kano, shows that the following numbers of rape/indecent assault cases were reported in the year 2012. Ogun 8, Oyo-131, Lagos-129, and Kano-57. The total is 325. In the year 2013, the states recorded the following reports of the same cases; Ogun-20, Oyo-365, Lagos-132 and Kano-80. The total is 579. A cursory look at these statistics shows a clear increase in number of rape cases in most parts of the country. This is worrisome.”

According to Wikipedia, “Statistics on rape and other sexual assaults are commonly available in advanced countries, and are becoming more common throughout the world. A study of students of the Polytechnic, Ibadan found that in their lifetimes 1.7% (2.5% of males and 1.1% of females) had raped and 2.7% (5.3% of males and 0.9% of females) had attempted rape.

“Out of a sample of 295 female students from Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki in Southeast Nigeria, 36.7% had experienced sexual harassment/victimization at least once on campus. Of this, 32.4% had been raped (10.8% of the sample).

“A study comparing the sexual practices of 12-19 year old students with and without mild/moderate intellectual disabilities from schools across Oyo State, Nigeria found that 68.3% of the sexually experienced intellectually disabled females reported a history of rape victimization compared to 2.9% of the sexually experienced non-disabled females.”

Dr. Princess Olufemi-Kayode, founder and Executive Director of Media Concern Initiative for Women & Children - an organisation that works on the sexual violence prevention and crisis response, said the rise in rape could be traced to population explosion. She said that victims of sexual abuses grow up to become abuser themselves.

She noted that cases of teenagers abusing youngers kids were now prevalent than adults raping kids. The rise is further traced to exposure to pornographies on social media and internets websites. The low cost of pornographic movies in several shops in the country is also another worrisome connection.

Rape cases in Nigeria will continue to snow ball as long as the justice system and Nigerians continues to be lackluster in speaking up and convicting perpetrators. A convicted rapist is supposed to bag life imprisonment with or without canning under the Criminal Code, whereas in Penal Code, it is punishable with imprisonment for life or for any less term and shall also be liable to s fine. The question however is this: how many perpetrators had been arrested, charged and convicted?

Most times, family members of victims and perpetrators prefer to ‘settle out of court,’ exchanging money, rather see that justice is done. The case closes. The perpetrator goes home, to continue in his old ways, since he knows he can ‘buy justice.’

Response to rape should not be left to the government and security agencies alone to tackle. It should be a collective response, involving all sectors.

Government should put a mechanism in place whereby family members cannot be allowed to settle or collect money in issues concerning rape.

Government can play its role by providing jobs for its teeming unemployed citizens. It’s only poverty that allows a person to sacrifice his sexually traumatised child for money.

Victims must begin to speak out and demand for justice. The victims carry deep scars for the rest of their lives. They can be helped once they speak out.  Parents need to learn how to interact with their kids and keep communication open. They should also educate their kids about rape and sex.