INTERROGATING THE PREVALENCE OF RAPE AND CAUSATIVE FACTORS IN LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA
Abstract
Rape is a long-standing crime that is gradually becoming a way of life in developing societies. With the high incidences of rape that occur on a daily basis, it could be referred to as an epidemic. With victims refusing to report their ordeal to the law enforcement agencies, it has become so difficult to produce accurate statistics on rape in Nigeria. These issues acted as a catalyst for this study as it is borne out of the failure of the authorities to reduce the crime of rape. Arising from the identified loopholes, this paper embarked on a study of rape prevalence in Lagos State, Nigeria utilizing the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women as the frame of analysis. Data were gathered from both primary and secondary sources. With retrieved data from the 340 out of 384 copies of questionnaire analyzed, interviews conducted and secondary sources, the study discovers that rape is surging rather than subsiding. It further observed that the blame on indecent dressing as a key causal factor for rape was misleading as it contributed minimally to the cause. The paper recommended the strengthening of existing laws on rape in other to act as a deterrence mechanism to would-be offenders. It strongly called for the utilization of ICT- enabled technologies in the fight against rape and suggests the forging of synergies and linkages between the government and non-state actors. It concluded that the relevant government parastatal should ensure the Nigerian state benefits from preexisting coalitions or conventions, which the state has assented to rather than join more without any mutual benefits accruing to her.
Keywords
Full Text:
PDFReferences
Adebola, F. O., Adepoju, U. I. & Ezeikel, I. Y. (2019). Psychological effects of rape on the victims in Sub-saharan African countries. International Journal of Humanities, 3(6), 67-89
Adeshina, A. P. (2021). On indecent dressing and rape. Retrieved from https://www.pressreader.com/nigeria/the-nation-nigeria/20210225/281805696651830
Afolabi, A. & Nwannekanma, B. (2021). Lagos records 1,617 cases of sexual assaults in six months. Retrieved from https://guardian.ng/news/lagos-records-1617-cases-of-sexual-assaults-in-six-months/
Ahmad, A. (2014). The crime of rape in Nigeria: Inadequacies of protection mechanism. Umaru Musa Yar’adua University Law Journal, 1 (1), 63-76
Akhtar, M. I. (2016). Research design. Research in Social Science: Interdisciplinary Perspectives, 68-84
Alakija, E. W., Ugochukwu, D. F. & Stephen, I. H. (2020). Psychological effects of rape on the victims in Sub-saharan African countries. International Journal of Humanities, 8(5), 56-96
Alhassan, B. O. (2020). Psychological Effects of Rape on the Victims in Sub-saharan Countries. International Journal of Humanities, 3(4), 50-87
Amaka-Okafor, V. (2013). Nigeria has a rape culture too, Guardian Africa Network. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/Jan/14/Nigeria-rape-culture
Aqel, F. (2020). The psychology of a rapist. Retrieved from https://www.dw.com/en/the-psychology-of-a-rapist/a-54814540
Ashiru, W. T. & Amurawaye, S. G. (2019). Psychological effects of rape on the victims in Sub-Saharan African countries. International journal of humanities, 4(2), 50-87
Berman, S. J. (n.d). Rape and Statutory Rape. Retrieved from https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/rape-statutory-rape-32638.html
Bishop, K. (2018). A Reflection on the history of sexual assault laws in the United States, The Arkansas journal of Social Change and Public Service. Retrieved from https://www.uair.edu/socialchange/2018/04/15/reflection-history-sexual-assault-laws-united-states
Bolade, S. G., Adetoun, L. N. & Rahimi, A. J. (2019). Psychological effects of rape on the victims in Sub-Saharan African countries. International journal of humanities, 4(2), 56-89
Bourke, J. (2020). A Global History of Sexual Violence. In Penn, N. & Winter, J. (eds.), Intimate and Gendered Violence, The Cambridge World History of Violence (147-167). London: Cambridge University Press.
Bourke, R. (2001). Rape work: Victims, gender and emotions in organizations and community context. New York: Routledge
BUMC. (2021). What is culture? Cultural Awareness. Retrieved from https://www.sphweb.bumc.bu.ed
Calhoun, S. R., Wesson, D. R., Galloway, G. P., & Smith, D. E. (1996). Abuse of flunitrazepam (Rohypnol) and other benzodiazepines in Austin and south Texas. Journal of psychoactive drugs, 28(2), 183–189
City population. (2020). Ikeja Local Government Area in Metro Lagos. Retrieved from https://www.citypopulation.de/php/nigeria-metrolagos.php?cid=NGA025011
Gbenga-Ogu, Y. (2020). Why it is difficult to get justice for rape victims (II). Retrieved from https://tribuneonlineng.com/why-it-is-difficult-to-get-justice-for-rape-victims-ii/
George, L. (2021). Nigerian women take action as rape, assault cases surge during pandemic. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/nigerian-women-take-action-rape-assault-cases-surge-during-pandemic-2021-04-28/ Okechukwu-Osuizigbo, L. (2020). Poor parenting responsible for high rape rate. Retrieved from https://nnn.ng/poor-parenting-responsible-for-high-rape-rate-activist/
Nagaddya, R., Kiconco, S., Komuhangi, A., Akugizibwe, P. & Atuhairwe, C. (2017). Assessing the Influence of Social Networking Material on Adolescents Sexual Behaviour in Kampala. Journal of Education and Practice, 8(15), 187-193
New Agency of Nigeria. (2017). Blame social media, entertainment industry for sexual harassment, drug abuse. Retrieved from https://guardian.ng/news/blame-social-media-entertainment-industry-for-sexual-harassment-drug-abuse/
Ochab, E. U. (2021). Rape Is A Grave, Systematic And Widespread Human Rights Violation Yet Still Poorly Addressed. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/ewelinaochab/2021/06/27/rape-is-a-grave-systematic-and-widespread-human-rights-violation-yet-still-poorly-addressed/?sh=55ecc91f4ab2
Olabulo, L. (2021). Rape Epidemic Hits Lagos, 91 violated in 10 weeks. Retrieved from https://tribuneonlineng.com/rape-epidemic-hits-lagos-91-violated-in-10-weeks/
Omoniyi, T. (2020). Nigerians calls for stiffer punishment as reported rape cases increase. Retrieved from https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/396497-nigerians-call-for-stiffer-punishment-as-reported-rape-cases-increase.html
Onwuzoo, A. (2020). Expert blames increase in rape cases on alcohol, drug abuse. Retrieved from https://healthwise.punchng.com/expert-blames-increase-in-rape-cases-on-alcohol-drug-abuse/ Musa, A. (2020). Sex education in Nigeria: Attitude of secondary school adolescents and the role of parents and stakeholders. Open Journal of Educational Development, 1(1), 1-30
Onyejekwe, C. J. (2008). Nigeria: The dominance of rape. Journal of International Women’s Studies, 10(1), 48-63
Wise, E. (2012). Rape Culture in Society and the Media. Retrieved from http://www.womennc.org/documents/2013CSW/Papers/Research/Elisabeth.pdf
World Population Review. (2022). Lagos population 2022. Retrieved from https://www.worldpopulationreview.com Adebumiti, A. (2020). Experts on why sex education is key to reducing gender-based violence. Retrieved from https://guardian.ng/features/experts-on-why-sex-education-is-key-to-reducing-gender-based-violence/
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
ISSN (Print): 2276-8645
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.