It's nearly impossible to go through news these days without coming across a new case of rape/child molestation. I begin to ask myself the following: is libido getting higher? Are people getting bolder? Is the world getting crazier or is it signs of the endtime as the religious folks would want us to believe. Here is my take on this:

1. It is possible that rape has always been this prevalent but it is just getting more awareness now due to access to social media/internet

2. I think we only exhibit what our mind is filled with. These days pornography is everywhere. In our movies (even on the Nollywood posters hanging on walls), our music videos and right in our palms (our phones). Easy access to and constant visualization of nudity psychologically affects us and makes us crave for sex.

3. Punishment for rape seems non existent. It is pertinent to note that most rape cases go unreported due to stigma. Sadly the few cases that get reported are handled with kids gloves. You can imagine my surprise when I learnt that there have been ONLY 18 CASES OF RAPE CONVICTIONS IN NIGERIA'S FULL HISTORY. This means 99.999 rapists have gone Scot-free. That is preposterous! I weep. It is obvious the judiciary is either asleep or totally blind or dare I say complicit in this crime. This is totally unacceptable.
http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/192895-only-18-rape-convictions-recorded-in-nigerias-legal-history-lawyer.html

4. Our entire Society is also an accomplice in this crime. Our reaction to rape reports even on social media and platforms like this says it all. People make jokes, taunt and cajole the victims. Has anyone taken time to analyze Olamide's "story for the gods" lyrics? That song lucidly talks about rape and noone is raising an eyebrow. We trivialize issues so much till it affects us personally.

Watch and see how this sugarbelly's case will be swept under the carpet. I'm not saying she's innocent or not but in saner climes such accusations are capable of ruining someone's political ambition if not clearly trashed.

My recommendation is simple, the Judiciary, hope of the weak should wake up, sterner punishments should be meted out to offenders to serve as a deterrent to others.

Fellow Nairalanders what do you think is the cause for the rise of such dastardly acts?

cc: lalasticlala, Seun

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Ok

The reason why many rapists have been getting off the hook is because we have terribly weakened institutions.

Normally, the police is the first port of call for rape cases.
Where policemen can be bought with a few thousand naira, and they quickly release the offender, or where police would refer to it as "family issue" (in cases where the rape occurred between relatives or close family friends) and tell the victim and perp to settle it "amicably" at home.

Next port being the law courts are not any better. Justice can be bought and subverted. Our judiciary is so slow and cumbersome, such that even a clear cut, slam and dunk case would be left to drag for months on end without a resolution in sight.

The recent case of a LASU lecturer that got convicted and jailed is a drop in the ocean compared with the countless rape cases begging for justice. Anyone with a fragment of political power in Naija can get away with rape, when even a hint of such a crime is enough to ruin his career for life in civilized societies.

When you hear about a rape or an alleged rape case, and in the next few weeks, you got the information that the rapist was sentenced to some years in prison, then most people will think twice before unleashing their weapon even when the sex act is consensual.

whirlwind7:
The reason why many rapists have been getting off the hook is because we have terribly weakened institutions.

Normally, the police is the first port of call for rape cases.
Where policemen can be bought with a few thousand naira, and they quickly release the offender, or where police would refer to it as "family issue" (in cases where the rape occurred between relatives or close family friends) and tell the victim and perp to settle it "amicably" at home.

Next port being the law courts are not any better. Justice can be bought and subverted. Our judiciary is so slow and cumbersome, such that even a clear cut, slam and dunk case would be left to drag for months on end without a resolution in sight.

The recent case of a LASU lecturer that got convicted and jailed is a drop in the ocean compared with the countless rape cases begging for justice. Anyone with a fragment of political power in Naija can get away with rape, when even a hint of such a crime is enough to ruin his career for life in civilized societies.

When you here about a rape or an alleged rape case, and in the next few weeks, you got the information that the rapist was sentenced to some years in prison, then most people will think twice before unleashing their weapon even when the sex act is consensual.

you're right. the judiciary has much work to do cos they need to make good examples of rapists in order to send a message. I wouldn't even mind making the sentence life imprisonment