The site unicef.org shared a story about a thirteen-year-old named Grace who had been sexually and physically abused by her father since she was five. Her mother left when Grace was very young, leaving her and her father alone in Lagos’ one-room apartment.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, things got worse for her due to schools’ closure and social distancing. Grace’s father saw this as an opportunity to rape her every night, and he would abuse her physically when she refuses.
Her neighbors got wind of her situation when they heard her stifled cries during one of those nights, which led to her rescue. The father was taken into custody by the police. At the same time, medical examinations were carried out on Grace which revealed she was pregnant. She currently receives psychological and medical help and currently lives with the neighbor’s family that rescued her. This is one of the so many horrible incidents happening daily, some unnoticed Rape and Incest in Nigeria.
Nigerians have lost their once cherished values of decency and responsibility because sexual molestation, especially rape and incest, have increased tremendously.
These acts of betrayal are often perpetrated by respected and trusted neighbors, uncles, parents (as was the case with Grace), and grandparents, including revered pastors, imams, or teachers. Cases of sexual violence against children in Nigeria have disturbingly become a regular incident in the News.
Individuals, governmental and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have expressed their concern over the increase of the incidences of sexual abuse and violence against children all over the country. In Nigeria today, what used to be considered taboo and sacrilege has now become a national topic. Every day you hear horrible cases of fathers abusing their young daughters, rising cases of incest, and rape of children by trusted adults with whom they are kept for care Rape and Incest in Nigeria.
Sometimes, the victim is tricked and deceptively taken advantage of; but it is mainly done by force and violence and leaves the victim physically and psychologically damaged and scarred.
In some worse cases, the victims – especially those who resist, lose their lives or are maimed for life. Most of these abuses can be linked with poverty, ignorance, poor education, and unstable home environments. Only an uneducated man will want to have canal knowledge of his child Rape and Incest in Nigeria.
