Why Rape Cases Are Increasing In Nigeria – NHRC

On the backdrop of persistent rape cases in Nigeria in the past few months, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has advanced reasons for the upsurge in the nefarious actions.

The commission noted that rape has continued to thrive in the country because so many citizens do not know the relevant laws protecting them and have accepted the occurrence as a norm..

Speaking at a media parley in Abuja,Tony Ojukwu, executive secretary of the commission, said the commission had found out that many gender-based violence cases were unreported in the rural communities.

He said: “We need you to analyse existing laws that protect human rights – the violence against persons prohibition act, the public complaints commission act – that in one way or the order try to protect the rights of Nigerians so that they can know the avenues available to them,” the executive secretary said.

He said further: “That is why we are talking about ignorance. You can put it on the social media so that people can know; we should think out of the box. Our people need this knowledge and I can tell you that a major way of preventing gender-based violence is having the knowledge.

“Our people are taking some of these things for granted and a way of life, when they (victims) are violated at the community level, they accept it and the violators are going scot free.”

He said although the human rights situation in Nigeria has improved since the return to democracy in 1999, there was still a lot that needed to be done.

“The Nigerian people are gradually becoming accustomed to enjoying their civil liberties because the media has played a critical role in the re-establishment of democracy and respect for human rights,” he said.