25th February, 2014
The increasing number of rape cases recorded daily across Nigeria has reached a point where the average Nigerian, especially the men, are no longer trusted by women. Recent statistics on rape has shown the degree of moral decadence in the society and the consequences it has triggered. Victims of rape now resort to committing suicide to end the shame they did not bring upon themselves. In Yenagoa, the capital of Nigeria’s Bayelsa State, an 18-year old girl simply called Janet had to take her own life recently as she could not bear the shame that comes with being gang-raped.
Just days ago in Akure, the Ondo State capital, a pastor’s wife, Mrs. Eunice Ajayi, was hacked to death by a machete wielding young man, identified as Jerry, for refusing to be raped. Reports said the killer entered the pastor’s house at Peaceland Road, along Ilesa-Akure expressway where he committed the act. The rapist also attacked the pastor with the machete when he tried to rescue his wife.
Last week, a Bowen University student was trailed by some cultists where she went to buy recharge card. They followed her to her house and after vehemently resisting being raped, she was butchered by the criminals who later sent a text message to her mother to inform her that they had killed her daughter for being too proud and refusing their advances.
In January, nine men were arrested in Sokoto for killing a nine-year old girl after they gang-raped her. Also in Osun state, a 27-year old man, Akeeb Ibrahim, was recently arrested and charged with defiling a two-year old.
Though statistics on rape cases vary due to many hindrances, the Commissioner of Police in Lagos state, Umar Manko, recently disclosed that his command recorded 132 cases in 2013 as against the 129 cases reported in 2012. The Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development also disclosed that statistics available to it shows that in May 2013, a total of 1,200 women and young girls had been raped in Rivers State with most of the cases committed by criminal gangs.
As at when he spoke, Michael Gbarale, the Project Officer of the organisation said 800 of the victims were undergoing treatment at various hospitals in the state. Also in Edo state, the Central Hospital, Benin City alone, said it recorded 80 cases between March and October 2013.
A major challenge in the fight against rape is the difficulty in establishing the crime and getting the culprits punished. In many cases, the number of the convicted is a far cry from the huge figures announced by the authorities. Kano state secured the highest conviction among states in the country with 40 persons convicted last year.
While many victims end up being blamed for being raped, experts say in most cases, the men should be held liable. Some even believe that having forceful carnal knowledge of some categories of women could help them cure sexually transmitted diseases. Some think it could bring them some form of goodluck.
Unfortunately, the police that should be at the forefront of this fight end up frustrating cases. They have been sometimes accused of thwarting evidences and handling the cases shoddily. In some cases, they arrest suspects only to free them without the knowledge of the victims or their relations. As a result, many of the incidents end up not reported as the victims are average Nigerians who could not spend their limited resources to pursue cases that may not yield positive results.
Some Nigerians have also argued that the country’s laws regarding rape should be reviewed with stronger punishments. Mrs. Josephine Anenih, a former minister, has even advocated an extreme measure, which is to castrate men who indulge in rape.
While we support a concerted effort to end the scourge, we also urge parents to realise the importance of raising children properly right from birth. Poor parenetal upbringing has led to moral decadence in the society, with its attendant consequences such as rape, kidnapping, armed robbery, prostitution, drug addiction, and other social vices hitherto alien to Nigerians. We also urge the police to diligently prosecute rape suspects, instead of aiding and abetting them.