Sexual abuse of children is a stark reality worldwide. A common misconception about child sexual abuse is that it is a rare event perpetrated against girls by male strangers. However, in Nigeria today, parents are not left out in this heinous act.
Child sexual abuse is a much too common occurrence that results in harm to millions of children, in large and small communities, and across a range of cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds. These acts are perpetrated by different kinds of offenders, trusted friends or family. It can be in form of sexual assault, rape, incest and the commercial sexual exploitation of children.
Children that are usually abused are those involved in low family support, high stress, such as high poverty, low parental education, absent or single parenting, domestic violence, emotionally needy, and those with learning or physical disabilities.
Experiences of children sexually abused often go undisclosed and unrecognised. The victim may fear the disclosure will not be believed, or that it will negatively affect their own well-being and that of their families. There are numerous systems involved after a child experiences sexual abuse, which includes, child protective services, police, legal teams, medical teams, other child protection agencies and child welfare agencies. The effect of child sexual abuse includes depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and physical injury to the child.
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Child sexual abuse in Nigeria is an offence under several sections of chapter 21 of the criminal code of the country. In 2015, UNICEF reported that one in four girls and one in ten boys in Nigeria had experienced emotional, physical or sexual abuse before the age of 18. Following the shortcomings in Nigerian court to effectively deal with sexual assault cases, Itoro Eze-Anaba, a lawyer, set up the Mirabel Centre in Lagos, the first in the country, in 2013. The Mirabel Centre has offered treatment and support to many survivors of rape and sexual assaults. The Centre sees to the cost of drugs for victims. It also organises sexual assault awareness programmes for young girls.
One very worrisome discovery in the course of research is that parents and relations of victims are contributing to the rising evil trend. In a lot of cases, parents of sexually abused children opt for financial compensation instead of prosecuting the offender, and thereby encouraging the evil since cash seems to be the only deterrent.
One of such scenario was the case of a 50-year-old man, Mr. Basil Okafor, who was accused of defiling an eight-year-old girl, Chizaram (other names withheld by us), on August 7, 2019, at their residence at No. 16, Oguyemi Street, Ilaje, Lagos . The mother of the victim, Ulochi Ekene, of same address, after reporting the matter to the police, opted for financial settlement. The single mother of 3, had told the police that the suspect had sexually assaulted the minor repeatedly. Prior to her daughter’s presentation, she alleged that her daughter told her that the suspect had been having carnal knowledge of her and threatened to kill her if she ever reports to her. An allegation the suspect denied. A meeting was scheduled by both parties in order to find a peaceful way of resolving the matter. The victim’s mother brought two men, which she said were her brothers. The suspect’s wife also brought her own relations and some church members. The reporter also stormed the meeting to have first hand information of what would transpire. When the agenda was opened, one of the men brought by the victim’s mother demanded that a compensation of N4 million should be given to them. He latter reduced the amount to N2 million. But the suspect’s relations offered N150, 000. The men brought by the victim’s mother said that the money was for relocating the victim and her mother to another apartment, to avoid future problems, and changing of school for all the children, and the cost of all the tests conducted on the victim. At the end, the sum of N150, 000 was paid to the family, as settlement to end the case.
Similar event had unfolded in July 2018, in Igando area of Lagos State. A man, who was said to be a pastor, was accused of raping 22- year-old mentally challenged lady. At the end, the accused parted with N 170,000 to end the case.
However, Mrs. Nora Okoh, Proprietress, kingdom Children School, described parents who seek financial settlement from rapists as mentally challenged, adding that such parents do not have conscience.
In her view: “Parents who ask for compensation from someone that either defiled or raped their child are mentally ill. That means they can trade the future of their child. How would the child look at them if she gets to know about it in the future? In fact, such parents are supposed to be treated same way like the offenders. We cannot blame this on poverty; it has to do with conscience.”
A new trend is the increasing involvement of fathers and close relations in the dastardly act. Recently, there have been cases of child sexual abuse and rape cases, where fathers have been fingered in not only defiling their own daughters but also and sometimes, impregnating and aborting the pregnancy.
In Asaba, Delta State, on July 7, 2019, a widow alleged that her 5-year old daughter had been sexually molested by her fiancé, Ezeani Norbert. She said the case was reported to the police and the perpetrator arrested, but she alleged that the suspect was released by the IPO, after he told her to accept N15, 000 for settlement, which she vehemently rejected. Following the harm done on the minor, she said that the FMC in Asaba, proposed to carry out surgery on her daughter, and she was told to deposit N300, 000, which she didn’t have.
Also in Edo State, on September 5, 2019, a 50-year-old man, who deflowered his 15-year-old stepdaughter, Onyinyechi (other names withheld by us), with the approval of her mother, were both remanded in prison custody. The suspect, Mr. Raphael Anigbosun, and his accomplice, Joy Odo, of Jehovah Witness Road, Ikpoba Hill, Benin, were arraigned before Magistrate D. I. Ademaigbo (Mrs.), on September 12, 2019.
Still counting, on July 4, 2019, Mr. Chris Azuoma, 35, was arraigned in the Chief Magistrate Court of Anambra State of Nigeria, holding at Otuocha, for raping and impregnating a 15-year-old girl, Chinyere (other names withheld by us). He was arraigned in Charge No. Man/82/2019.
The list is endless.
Reacting to the recent negative trend that has engulfed our society, Mrs. Charity Ndidiamaka Ihejirika, founder, Mother Charity Ndidamaka Children Foundation, a Non Govermental Organisation, (NGO), noted that the problem is from the family and not failure of the government or the security agencies.
She said: “This is not a government problem. The parents are to blame. Some parents do not monitor their children properly nor be sure of the attitude of the person you are handing over your child to. If parents do their bit properly, the prosecution will be for the government.”
According to a cleric, Pastor Chinedu Nwafor, the men who commit rape or defilement, are either possessed by an evil spirit or they do it for ritual purposes.
“How can a 50-year-old man sleep with a child of 15 years? That is demonic or they do it for sacrifice. Offenders deserve stiffer penalties to deter others.”
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Speaking on the psychological and emotional effects of rape on victims, Dr. Vin Enahoro, Vice President, Life Coaches Association of Nigeria and Member, Emotional Intelligence Academy, Lagos, said that victims of rape suffered serious depression, which sometimes leads to suicidal thought.
He said: “Rape is a serious issue. It is being done against the person’s will. It leads to high-level trauma. The person might have bruises, broken bone, vaginal or anal bleeding as a result of the force. Victims can also contact sexually transmitted diseases. From emotional stress, the person can get into shock for a long period of time. They will always flash back and remember the entire picture. It can go from emotional to mental or suicidal thought. Depression is a mental situation. Fear, hopelessness is a mental issues. When they gets angry they looses orientation. When they gets married having sex with their husband becomes an issue. I am currently dealing on one. It leads to sexual discomfort and they begin to blame themselves. They get into self-guilt.”
