Rape as an Endemic Factor in Nigeria: An Examination of its Causes, Effects and Control

Abstract

Nigeria is presently faced with a number of challenges which are pathetic and raise serious
concern for the safety of our society. Insecurity, corruption, unemployment, abject poverty, poor
medical care, kidnapping and incessant rape offenses are parts of what is experienced on daily
basis. Rape is a global social problem and its perpetrators and victims cut across all age brackets.
In Nigeria, rape is a serious offence which attracts life imprisonment. Despite this, the commission
of rape offence is on the high side and it has become an endemic in our society. It is not enough to
make provisions for punishment against rape offenders, but to also examine the causes, effects and
ways to prevent further occurrence in the society. This paper examines the concept of rape under
the Nigerian law, causes of rape, effects of rape, factors militating against the efforts to reduce
rape and possible ways to reduce rape in our society. This paper adopts doctrinal approach of
qualitative method of research with the use of primary and secondary materials such as the
Statutes, decided cases, online journals, textbooks, conference papers, published articles and
newspaper. This paper concludes that punishment alone cannot eradicate rape, rather adequate
attention should be given to the causes, effects and ways to prevent rape in our society since
nothing justifies the act of rape. This paper recommends and calls for more awareness and
sensitization on the causes and effects of rape in addition to adequate retributive measures to
reduce rape in our society.