







































Children and Teenagers 
ISSN 2576-3709 (Print) ISSN 2576-3717 (Online) 

Vol. 2, No. 1, 2019 
www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/ct 

13 
 

Original Paper 

Child Rape in Nigeria, Implications on the Education of the 

Child 
Maria Charity Agbo1* 

1 Department of Educational Psychology, Federal College of Education, Eha-Amufu, Enugu State, 

Nigeria 
* Maria Charity Agbo, Department of Educational Psychology, Federal College of Education, 

Eha-Amufu, Enugu State, Nigeria 
 

Received: December 21, 2018    Accepted: January 14, 2019    Online Published: January 30, 2019 

doi:10.22158/ct.v2n1p13                          URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.22158/ct.v2n1p13 

 

Abstract  

The purpose of this study was to investigate child rape in Nigeria, its implications on the education of 

the child. Descriptive survey design was adopted. Three research questions guided the study. The 

population of the study was all the young parents in Nigeria whose female children are between 0-12 

years old. Disproportionate random sampling was used to select 100 respondents each from 8 states 

out of 36 states in the country, making it 800 respondents. Structured questionnaire and interview were 

used to collect data from the respondents. Frequency, percentage and rank order were used to analyze 

the data collected for research question one. Mean, standard deviations and rank order were used to 

analyze data for research questions two and three. The findings revealed a high prevalence of child 

rape in Nigeria. The findings also identified in rank order; lack of reports on rape cases, mishandling 

of rape cases, child labour, children being left alone without care, men raping children for ritual 

purposes, indecent dressing as the causes of child rape. According to the findings, the effects of child 

rape in rank order include; emotional traumas, social stigma, sexual transmitted infections, 

termination of child’ life, low academic performance, physical pains and injuries, school dropout, poor 

attendance to school. Recommendations and implications were also made.  

Keywords 

child, rape, stigma, shame, infections 

 

 

 

 



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1. Introduction  

Human sexuality is not just a matter of instinct as many people believe. It is rather an action which is 

controlled by decisions and social norms. It is a decision because no matter the reasons behind sexual 

activities, the two parties involved should under normal circumstances decide or take a decision to 

carry out the act. It is also controlled by social norms in the society because there are social sexual 

norms and ethical standards that guide how humans express their sexuality even though it varies from 

one culture to another. 

However, the variation of social sexual norms in different cultures does not rule out the fact that sexual 

abuse called rape is considered a taboo and strongly condemned and shunned all over the world. It is 

more serious when it involves children (minors) especially children and babies of eight years and 

below.  

Child rape in Nigeria is a new dimension of rape which has left many mouths agape and eyebrows 

raised. It is so embarrassing and heart breaking to hear that children who suck breasts are raped by 

beings who call themselves men. One begins to wonder what type of pleasure such worthless men 

derive from raping babies and children. How can a man with all his senses insert his manhood in the 

tender and undeveloped private parts of toddlers? Are these men human or beats? Apart from the fact 

that the female child due to her directional ability cannot make a decision about her sexuality, the 

child’s psychological state according to Catholic Diocese of Nsukka (2009) makes her vulnerable for 

rape.  

Rape is the crime of forcefully having sexual relationship with somebody against the person’s wish or 

consent. The term rape according to Wikipedia (2017) originated from Latin word “rapere” meaning to 

snatch, grab or to carry off. Child rape is a form of sexual abuse committed against a child that is not 

old enough to have sex, in which an adult or older adolescent uses the child forcefully for sexual 

gratification.  

There has been an outcry against child rape in Nigeria, which attracted the attention of not only the 

government, and non-governmental organizations in Nigeria, but also international non-governmental 

bodies (Uzoanya, 2015). The senate in Nigeria has passed a bill in 2015 which prescribed life 

imprisonment for rapists and anybody who has sexual relationship with children under the age 11 years, 

but unfortunately, the bill has not deterred the rapists (Halim, 2016). As individuals, and groups both 

governmental and non-governmental organizations try to quench the evil fire of rape of children, the 

fire burns farther and wider to consume the lives, future and the education of the innocent female 

children in Nigeria. The news of child rape is worrisomely increasing. It is now usual to hear that a 

man has raped his biological daughter, or that a baby girl of some months old has been defiled carnally 

by an old man. What lures men into raping children and babies really confuses people.  



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Despite the measures taken so far to combat the menace of the rape of children in Nigeria, the problem 

tends to escalate geometrically.  

In Enugu State, National Mirrow (2016) reported that a 16 year old boy has raped three kids including 

a 10 month old baby girl in Udi local government area of the state. According to National Mirrow 

(2016), the police in the state confirmed the arrest of the rape suspect, adding that the case has been 

transferred to the police headquarters in the state where the suspect was being detained. Police also 

arrested a 50 year old headmaster, Mr. Nathaniel Idoko from Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area 

of Enugu State for allegedly raping his four female pupils aged between 5-6 years in a bush in July 

2018 (Ossai, 2018; Njoku, 2018).  

One of the ugliest rape cases in recent time as observed by The International Federation of Women 

Lawyers (FIDA) was the rape of a 3 year old girl by the biological father in 2013. The act was done 

when the father was changing the daughters pampers (Vanguard National Newspaper, 2013). Again in 

December 2016, in Enugu-Ezike Community in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu 

State, one Mr. Ojobo has been arrested by Enugu State Police Command for raping 11 children 

between the ages of 3 and above. Olujisting (2016) states that the culprit confessed that he flashed a 

magic white cloth before the children who became unconscious and followed him to where he abused 

them sexually for ritual purpose of becoming rich.  

In Ebonyi State, the news of child rape is not less serious as an 8 month old baby was reported to have 

been defiled by the very man who is her biological father. According to the mother of the baby (the 

wife of the rapist), the incident has repeated itself which attracted the mother’s attention. In Ebonyi 

state also, a 16 year old boy has been arrested for raping a 4 months baby. According to Vanguard 

National Newspaper (2017), the boy carried the baby into his room and raped her repeatedly until the 

baby started bleeding through the private part and anus.  

In Abia State, one Mr. Emeka Asirionu, a 65 year old man has been arrested and paraded for raping a 2 

year old girl child kept under his care at Oriendu near Umuahia. According to Abia state commissioner 

of police Mr. Adeleye Oyebade, the suspect was arrested in September 28, 2016 (Punch Newspaper, 

2016). 

Baby rape has also been cited in Imo state. For instance, five men were reported for allegedly raping an 

8 year old girl. The girl who hawks sachet water was lured by the rapists to a lonely part of Relief 

Market in Owerri where they serially raped her until she became unconscious. Vanguard Newspaper 

(2017) and Onyejiuwa (2016) reported that angry mob on discovering what happened caught three out 

of the five, tore their clothes, and beat them thoroughly before handing them over to police. 

Child rape was also investigated in Cross-Rivers State and it was revealed that a 24 year old 

man-Chijioke Nwafor has raped an 8 year old Miss Alice Eneji to death, Chijioke has forcefully 

engaged Alice in a marathon sex at St. Patrick’s Primary School Okuku which resulted to the victims 



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death. The Police Relation officer Mr. Hogan Bassey confirmed this to Vanguard Newspaper (Prenium 

Time, 2013). In Calaber, also, one Mr. Macellinus Nwabiri defiled his 3 year old step daughter. She 

was admitted to the General hospital Calabar where medical reports stated that the hymen of the victim 

had been broken, confirming that the rape actually happened. Further, medical investigations by 

Nigerian Navy hospital Calabar also confirmed the act (Cross River Watch, 2016).  

In Osun State, a man of 27 year old has been arrested by the police and charged to court after reports 

that he had forcefully defiled a 2 year old toddler (Vanguard Newspaper, 2016).  

In Ibadan, Oyo State, according to Gbemileke (2015) one Pastor was arrested for raping a 7 year old 

girl (Bidemi) on the altar of his church in May 2017. The accused confessed that he really attempted 

the crime but could not penetrate. What a sacrilege that a pastor would use an altar of God for rape 

nest.  

In Kaduna State, a 24 year old Haruna Tukur, a bus conductor has been arrested, and charged to 

magistrate court in the state in 29th February 2016 for raping a 5 year old girl repeatedly even after he 

had been arrested and set free on bail for raping the same child. According to Garba (2016), this case 

has prompted an outrage in social media, as the culprit has been reported to have repeatedly raped the 

child for two years starting from when she was only 3 years old. Also in Kaduna, Mr. Daniel Joseph a 

31 year old man has been handed over to Kaduna police command for raping his 2 year old daughter in 

Gonin-Gorachikum local government area of the state. The mother of the child was late and the culprit 

used the opportunity to destroy what he should protect. The crime was confirmed by a medical doctor 

who reported penetration and serious infection (Daily Post, 2016).  

In Kano State, a 6 month old baby girl has been raped by the husband of her mother’s friend in 2016. 

The man raped the baby with the help of his wife who held the infant’s legs. The rapist (name withheld) 

confessed that his wife and he were barren, and have agreed for the rape of the baby as they have been 

told by a ritualist that the only way they could have their own babies was for the man to rape a baby for 

rituals (Dachen, 2017; Nigerian News Today, 2017). 

Child rape is not limited to Nigeria alone. Other nations of the world have their own ugly stories to tell 

about rape of children or minors in their own lands. For instance, a 25 year old man has been arrested at 

a home in Annaloug Country Down in Northern Ireland for raping a 2 year old baby girl. The culprit 

later appeared before magistrates in Armah and was charged with rape, causing a lot of grievous bodily 

harm to the child (Darko, 2018).  

In Assin Adadientem municipality in Central Ghana, a 4 year old girl has been brutally raped by her 

mother’s neighbor when her mother was away attending funeral. Shockingly, the chief of the area 

allegedly refused to take any action against the rapist, claiming that “gods” said the man was innocent 

(Ngugi, 2017). 



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In Jijiga Southeast Addis Ababa, a 4 year old girl had died in a hospital from injuries sustained during 

rape. According to the medical reports, the girl suffered from severe lacerations when she was raped. 

However, the culprit, a twenty-four year old man has been handed over to police (The Irish Times, 

2002).  

Rape cases in Nigeria have taken a new dimension of involving children and babies. However, nothing 

goes for nothing as an adage says. The rape of children therefore has many causes which may include. 

1.1 Mishandling of Rape Cases 

It is an established fact according to Achunike et al. (2014), that rape and sexual violence against 

women are not prosecuted as expected. Alhassan et al. (2013) lament that over one hundred cases of 

rape and violence against females often go without any of the culprits being prosecuted; Falayan et al. 

(2014), stress that sometimes, the police do not take appropriate actions by not making official report. 

The Nigerian criminal code of law section 357 of criminal code Act, laws of the Federal Republic of 

Nigeria recommends life imprisonment for rape convicts and 14 years imprisonment for attempted rape 

(Itoro, 2015).  

The Nigerian senate has also approved life imprisonment for rapists of children under 11 years and 

people who have sexual intercourse with minors. However, only very few persons have been convicted 

since the enactment of the law to 2018. This is because sexual abuse matters in law court are sometime 

frustrated by the government which usually acts as the prosecution. The governmental prosecution of 

the offenders according to Uzoanya (2015) may have not been encouraging as it has been reported that 

sex offenders have in some cases asked to do community service as a form of punishment, contrary to 

the stipulated laws.  

Furthermore Ejim (2013) observed that Nigerian laws appear to in addition victimize and humiliate the 

female folk as they do not bring justice to them. The rigorous requirements involved in producing the 

authentic evidence of rape in question seem to trivialize the whole matter. For instance, before a rape 

case is established, the victim must get a medical report to confirm that rape has taken place, as well as 

getting police report within the shortest interval of time. Unfortunately, some Nigerian police demand 

bribe from rape victims in order to investigate rape cases and give reports, and when the bribe is not 

given to them, they accuse the rape victims of consenting to the sexual intercourse with the rapists. In 

some cases, the complainant becomes the accused and vise vasa, depending on who gives the highest 

bribe. Olatunji (2012) Conducted an extensive review of the Nigerian anti-rape law and identified some 

short-comings of which some are; that a rape victim must establish that penetration occurred, and that 

consent was not given. These limitations with establishing consent make proving many of the few valid 

rape cases difficult. Consequently, rapists increase in number as they are not adequately punished.  

 

 



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1.2 Shame and Stigmatization  

Many families and rape victims feel that reporting of rape incidents would circulate the news of the 

victims’ defilements which may result to shame, ridicule and social stigma. Consequently, many 

families prefer to conceal rape assaults that involve their family members in order to save themselves 

from shame, character assassination, backslash, rigorous legal procedures and public embarrassments 

among others. As a result, rape victims do not have the zeal to pursue their cases to conclusion. This 

undue silence over rape crimes encourages rapists go scot free, leading to more rapes (Uzoanya, 2015; 

Achunike et al., 2013; This Day Live, 2018).  

Supporting the statement that lack of report of rape increases rape incidents NOI-Polls (2014), Falayan 

et al. (2014) opine that majority of child rape cases which are never reported as parents want to protect 

the image of their children against social stigmatization and embarrassment increase the incident 

instead.  

1.3 Cultism and Rituals  

Ocultism and rituals are other causes of child rape in Nigeria. Due to unemployment, acute economic 

recession and more especially high rate of materialism and satanism in the country, many young men 

have sold their consciences to money, affluence and materialism. For instance, according to Nairaland 

Forum (2015), some people believe that when women especially virgins (children) are raped, the 

destiny of the victim is transferred to the perpetrator through magical means. An example of this is 

where a rapist * used white cloth to charm 11 children and abused them sexually. He confessed that the 

act would reap the destiny of the victims spiritually to make him rich, but that he has not started being 

rich by the time he was caught (Olujisting, 2016). The rape of 6 month old in Kano was also for ritual 

purpose (Dachen, 2017; Nigerian News Today, 2017). 

1.4 Indecent Dressing 

Indecent dressing is another factor that leads to rape in Nigeria. Many parents purchase all sorts of 

dresses for their children which expose the inner body and contour of the kids that should be covered 

from public views, such as tighs, butocks stomach and breasts. These days, young female children are 

dressed shabbily in boxers, short nickers, pants and leggings (Achunike et al., 2014). As a result, one 

wonders whether the parents of these kids still remember that these children are females who need 

woman dignity and respect. Female children who indulge in such dresses become tomboyish with male 

stereotyped behaviours of sitting and spreading their legs, dancing seductively just like boys whom 

they share their dress code with. All these may arouse sexual urge in men and adolescents especially 

the sexy and irresponsible ones. Ayogu (2011), after conducting a research on sexual abuse revealed 

that parents knowingly or unknowingly buy clothes with inscriptions such as “I am a sexy girl”, “Kiss 

me deep”, “hug me tight”, “Romance me” or “Fuck me baby” for their female children to wear. 



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Expectedly, such ludicrous and psychedelic dresses that advertise female nudity are inviting to rapists 

to carry out their exploits.  

1.5 Another Cause of Child Rape in Nigeria Is Parental Carelessness and Irresponsibility 

Many parents due to quest for money or tight office work feel that bombarding the children with food 

stuff and other luxuries are always the best for them (kids). Such parents abandon their little children 

early in the morning at the mercy of yard members or even without anybody to guard them, and come 

back late in the night. In such situations, children are denied of love, affection, close monitoring and 

guidance. The children become their own mothers, loitering around without restrictions or being 

monitored. These attitudes expose children to all sorts of dangers including rape.  

1.6 Child Labour 

Due to economic recession and poverty in Nigeria, children especially girls hawk goods along the 

streets as early as 6 or 7 years old. The introduction of young girls into street trading or hawking 

increases the chances of child rape in Nigeria (Ali, 2018; Chukwu et al., 2018; Agbo, 2017 p. 3). 

Unfortunately still, most of these hawkers go nudy as they hawk their wares. Commenting on the 

nudity of Nigerian girl hawkers, Nairaland Forum (2016) opines that girl hawkers in the country have 

carried out a dressing code of wearing indecent dresses such as miniskirts, leggings, nickers and 

hanging tops that expose their little bodies-nipples, novels, hips, and laps.  

Furthermore, these girls in a bid to sell their goods are usually determined to follow their presumed 

customers to any length to dispose their items. Some criminals and rapists capitalize on the children’s 

innocence and gullibility and lure them to lonely places where they may be raped or molested sexually.  

Child rape just like other rapes has many negative effects on both the raped and the rapists, ranging 

from social, psychological or emotional, and physical consequences to health challenges on the 

survivors (Click, 2016).  

1.7 Sociological Efects of Child Rape 

Child rape carries with it social stigma both for the victims and the perpetrators. The perpetrator if 

known, receives negative remarks from people whether convicted or not. Many people including 

friends and relations will disassociate themselves from him which may affect his social life including 

marriage. He is likely to be a loser in any competitive position or election. The victim has the greatest 

shame, and stigmatization that may cost her self-esteem, and self-image especially in marriage. As long 

as people remember the rape incident, they may doubt her health status including her fertility and 

ability to bear children, which may lead to her being rejected in marriage. Our society relies on moral 

beliefs, ethics and human etiquettes. So when a child is raped, it becomes a social stigma and makes the 

society lose its morality on the victim’s life. The stigma may follow the child to adulthood and become 

a hindrance to her marriage as not every man would like to marry a rape victim for shame.  



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In Igbo culture, just like many Nigerian cultures, virginity is a virtue, and a girl child who preserves her 

virginity till her marriage is honoured by her spouse and any other person who knows about it. 

Nevertheless, if a girl child is forcefully robbed of her virginity through rape, it leaves a permanent 

wound in her that can affect her interpersonal or heterosexual relationships, leading to rejection in 

marriage, frustration, and disappointments.  

Another issue of sociological consequences of child rape is the mistreatment of rape case. After rape, 

according to Wikipedia (2017), the victim is subjected to investigations and interrogations by the police 

including medical examinations, and in some cases mistreatments. During the criminal trials, rape 

victims suffer loss of privacy and their credibility may be challenged. Most of them become the target 

of slut shaming and cyber bullying if public bans are not used to protect them.  

1.8 Psychological or Emotional Effects of Child Rape 

Child rape generally may result to short-term or long-term psychological effects on the victim, 

including psychopathology in later life (Dinwiddies et al., 2000; Nelson et al., 2002). Rape terribly 

hurts women. Olufemi Kayode according to laments that rape is like stabbing a heart and leaving the 

dagger on the bleeding wound. Rape goes with anger, regret, denial, rejection coupled with emotional 

pains that arise from the fact that an individual is overpowered physically and forced to do what she 

hates and does not want to do. For children who are raped, the horror and emotional trauma that 

accompany the act can be devastating. Many raped children according to Click (2016), hardly recover 

from the emotional trauma as they experience loss of self-esteem, loss of childhood, loss of confidence 

in male adults, depressing and psychological crisis, depending on the age of the child. For example, the 

six month baby that was raped according to this study might not remember anything and she is better 

off if she is not told about it. For older children, the trauma can be extreme especially if the child is 

threatened with weapons or garged before the act as some perpetrators do. This according Mulugetta et 

al. (1998) may lead to short term psychological impacts of self-blame, suicide attempts, stress disorder, 

depression, loss of appetite, anxiety disorder. Other effects include dissociative and learning problems, 

destructive behaviours such as self-destruction, autophobia (fear of being alone) and achluophobia (fear 

of darkness) (Dinwiddies et al., 2000; Nelson et al., 2002). 

Rape can also leave long term emotional or psychological adverse effects on the child victim. Rape 

leaves painful memories and life-long psychological consequences on its victims and may result to 

permanent damage of self-worth. It can cause Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This is a mental 

disorder that can develop after an individual has witnessed traumatic events such as rape, murder, 

traffic accident or warfare. The symptoms include disturbing thoughts, feelings or dreams related to the 

event, fright responses, schizophrenia and so on. An individual with PTSD is at higher risk of suicide, 

intentional self harm and criminality in adulthood (Lahane et al., 2010).  



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The risk of long psychological effects is greater if the rapist is a relative or a family member of the rape 

victim. Incestual rape has been shown according (Dinwiddies et al., 2000; Nelson et al., 2002), to be 

one of the most extreme form of childhood trauma, a trauma that often does a serious and long term 

emotional damage on the part of the rape victim. It may lead to a child having problems relating with 

her family members or running away from home and committing suicide or even joining criminal 

gangs.  

Another psychological problem of child rape is sexual dysfunction at later age, such as Hypoactive 

Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD) or Inhibited Sexual Desire (ISD) (Wikipedia, 2017). This is a sexual 

dysfunction that is characterized by lack or absence of sexual fantacies and desire for sexual activity. 

Ebby et al. (1995) state that a victim of rape suffering from this problem will not start or respond to her 

partners desire for sexual activity. Rape can also result to frigidity in a raped child in later life. Sexual 

frigidity is an abnormal sexual behaviour or sexual dysfunction in which a woman hates sexual 

intercourse or is unable to enjoy love making or show any feeling for sexual activity. (Nwachukwu, 

1994, p. 246). A sufferer of sexual frigidity does not relax her body for easy penetration, consequently 

experiencing sexual pains that may lead to further hatred for sex.  

Vaginismus is another psychological after effect of rape that hunts a rape victim especially the children. 

This is another sexual dysfunction that is more serious than Hypoactive Desire Disorder (HSDD). 

Vaginismus sometimes called Vaginism is a condition in which a woman is unable to engage in vaginal 

penetration including sexual intercourse, manual penetration, insertion of tampons or menstrual cups 

and penetration involving gynecological examinations (Paptests). Lahane et al. (2010) assert that 

vaginismus results in involuntary muscle spasm, which makes any vaginal penetration painful and 

impossible. A woman who has been raped at tender age is likely to develop this problem at later age. 

The sufferer does not control spasm just as a person has no control over shutting the eye when an 

object comes towards it (Ebby et al., 1995). 

1.9 Health Risks of Child Rape 

Health risks of child rape can be enormous and devastating. The risks are more on the infections that 

cause havocs on the victims. 

Infections:  

Sexual Transmitted Infections (STIs) are the worst effect of rape including child rape. Many researches 

according to Holemes et al. (1996) have revealed that rape is a risk factor for HIV/AIDS and other 

sexual transmitted infections in the victim. Rapists according to Nwachukwu (1994, p. 246) often have 

underlying psychological problems ranging from strong emotion to influence of drug and organic brain 

disease like dyscontrol syndrome. Since they do not have right mindset, they usually engage in casual 

unprotected sexual relationships that may lead to vulnerability to sexual transmitted diseases and 

infections. Therefore, most of them are potential vectors of diseases and infections including 



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HIV/AIDS. When they rape, they spread epidemic that may lead to premature death or terminal 

diseases and reproductive problems among the rape victims. The damage to reproductive organ can as 

well lead to bareness with its everlasting emotional trauma, regret and frustration for life time (Falayan 

et al., 2014).  

Another infection that rape victim can contract is viginitis or vaginal inflammation which in most cases 

is a symptom of infection of the vagina. The inflammation can also involve both the vagina and vulva. 

In this case, it is called vulvogavinitis, resulting in discharge, itching and pain (Holmes et al., 1996; 

Pobby, 2014; Healthline, 2018). Urinary Track Infection (UTI) is also another infection associated with 

rape. It is an infection which affects part of urinary track. Ebby et al. (1995) opine that when it affects 

the lower urinary track, it is known as bladder infection called cystitis, and if it affects the upper 

urinary track, it is called kidney infection known as psycho-nephritis. 
Statement of the Study Problem 

Rape is bad, but child rape is evil. There has been a lot of outcry in newspapers, radio broadcast, blogs, 

and other mass media about child rape in Nigeria. Many children including babies have been raped or 

even died as a result of rape. Some have been raped by their neighbours, family members and friends 

and strangers, while others have been raped by men who call themselves biological fathers of those 

children.  

Child rape has caused a serious insecurity among female children in the country. Babies are no longer 

safe in their cods because their biological fathers rape them while changing their pampers. School 

children develop school phobia because their teachers defile them instead of protecting them. Errand 

children’s lives are at risk as some of them are lured or abducted into bushes where they are raped for 

ritual purposes, while pastors use God’s sanctuaries as love nest as they rape toddlers of their own 

churches.  

All these cause a lot of havoc in Nigerian society as many children’s lives and education have been 

affected adversely. The researcher was moved by this heart-breaking situation to investigate on child 

rape in Nigeria and the implications on the education of the child. 

 

2. Objectives of the Study 

1) To ascertain the level of parents awareness of child rape in Nigeria.  

2) To find out the causes of child rape in Nigeria.  

3) To identify the effects of child rape in Nigeria.  

 

 

 

 



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3. Research Questions 

1) How aware are parents of the prevalence of child rape in Nigeria? 

2) What are the causes of child rape in Nigeria? 

3) What are the effects of child rape in Nigeria? 

 

4. Method 

The study adopted descriptive survey. The population of the study was the entire young parents in 

Nigeria whose female children are between 0-12 years. This group was chosen to accommodate the age 

of children under study. Disproportionate random sampling technique was used to select the 

respondents. 8 out of 36 states in Nigeria were selected. In each state, 100 respondents comprising male 

and female were sampled for the study. The sample size was therefore 800 (100x8 = 800). Parents were 

used because the researcher found it difficult to get in touch with child rape victims. Annonymity and 

confidentially were granted to the respondents for security purposes.  

Structured questionnaire and interview were used to collect data. The data collected were analyzed 

using frequency and percentage, mean and standard deviations and rank order. A criterion mean of 2.5 

was used to accept or reject an item.  

 

5. Findings 

Research Question 1: How aware are parents of the prevalence of child rape in Nigeria?  

 

Table 1. Responses of Parents on the Prevalence of Child Rape in Nigeria 

S/N Child rape prevalence Fr. % 

1 I have heard news of child rape  709 88.6% 

2 My child has been raped when she was b/w 0-8 years  32 4% 

3 A child related to me has been rape at the age of 0-8 

years  

66 8.2% 

4 There has been a case or cases of child rape in my 

locality  

124 15.5% 

5 I have not heard about child rape  91 11.4% 

 Total  800 100% 

 

Table 1 above showed the parents’ responses on their awareness of prevalence of child rape in Nigeria.  

709 respondents representing 88.6% agreed that they have heard about incident of child rape in Nigeria, 

while 91 (11.4%) said they have not. 32 respondents (4%) agreed that their children have been raped 

between at the age of 0-8 years. 66 respondent (8.2%) agreed that a child/children of 0-8 years related 



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to them have been raped. 124 respondents representing 15.5% agreed that there has been a case or 

cases of child rape in their locality.  

Research Question 2: what are the causes of child rape in Nigeria? 

 

Table 2. Mean Standard Deviations and Rank Order of Respondents on the Causes of Child 

Rape in Nigeria 

S/N Causes of child rape X SD Rk  Dec 

1 Mishandling of rape cases encourages rapists to rape 

more 
3.17 1.01 2nd * 

2 Lack of reports on rape by rape victims encourages 

rapists in their evil acts  
3.18 1.06 1st * 

3 Men rape children for occultic and ritual purposes  2.92 0.85 5th * 

4 Indecent dressing among children lures rapists into 

raping them.  
2.63 0.87 6th  * 

5 Children who are usually left alone without care are 

exposed to rape  
3.10 0.82 4th * 

6 Child-labour exposes children to rape  3.17 101 2nd  * 

 

The analysis of data in Table 2 revealed that the causes of child rape in Nigeria are; lack of report on 

rape by rape victims (3.17 1st), * mishandling of rape cases encourages rapists to rape move (3.17 2nd), 

child labour exposes children to rape (3.17 2nd), children who are usually left alone without care are 

exposed to rape (3.10 4th) men rape children for occultic and ritual purposes (2.92 5th), indecent 

dressing among children lures rapists into raping them (2.63 6th). 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



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Research Question 3: What are the effects of child rape?  

 

Table 3. Mean, Standard Deviations and Rank Order of Respondents on the Effects of Child 

Rape  

S/N Effects of child rape X SD Rk Dec 

1 Child rape results to social stigma and shame  3.36 0.89 2nd  * 

2 Rape victims suffer serious emotional traumas  3.75 0.84 1st  * 

3 Rape victims suffer sexual dysfunction  2.68 0.56 8th  * 

4 Rape victims may contract sexual transmitted infections.  3.26 0.97 3rd  * 

5 Child rape victims may drop out of school due to shame 

and depression  
3.05 0.46 6th  * 

6 Injuries and pains sustained during rape may prevent a 

victim from attending school  
2.78 1.13 7th  * 

7 Emotional traumas due to rape may result to low 

academic performance  
3.10 0.75 5th  * 

8 Sexual transmitted infections including HIV may 

terminate child life and education  
3.24 0.91 4th  * 

 

The data in Table 3 indicated that the most severe consequence of child rape is that rape victims suffer 

emotional traumas. (3.75 1st) others arranged in rank order include; child rape results to social stigma 

and shame (3.36 2nd), rape victim may contract sexual transmitted infections (3.26 3rd), sexual 

transmitted infections including HIV may terminate the life of a rape victim and education 3.24 4th), 

emotional traumas due to child rape lowers academic performance (3.10 5th), child rape victims may 

drop out of school due to shame and depression (3.05 6th) injuries and pains sustained during rape may 

prevent a victim from attending school (2.78 7th), rape victims suffer sexual dysfunctions (2.68 8th).  

 

 

 

 



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7. Discussion 

The findings in table one showed that there is high prevalence of child rape in Nigeria. It was revealed 

that 8 out of 10 parents believed that there is prevalence of child rape in Nigeria. This result is in line 

with the research carried out by NOI-Polls (2014) which revealed a high prevalence of child rape in the 

country. Also in support of this result, the centre for Environment, Human Rights and development 

reported that 1,200 children have been raped in 2012 in Rivers state, southeastern Nigeria alone 

(Vanguard Newspaper, 2013; Wikipedia, 2016). 

The findings in table two indicated that lack of report of rape cases by rape victims increases the 

problem. The result was in line with observations by Ebuenyi et al. (2018) that lack of reports of rape 

cases promotes the evil. The results also revealed that child rape may be caused by mishandling of rape 

cases which encourages rapists to rape more. The result is in agreement with a study by Alhassan et al. 

(2013) which reported that mishandling of rape cases by anti-rape laws increases the chances of rape. 

The results also revealed that occultic and ritual purposes, indecent dressing, children being left alone 

without care, and child labour are also causes of child rape.  

The findings in table three revealed that child rape leaves behind it a lot of consequences; social stigma 

and shame. The victims also suffer emotional trauma. This was supported by Alhassan et al. (2013) 

research which showed that 1/3 rape victims has thought of suicide, and approximately 17% actually 

attempted suicide, 30% has developed depression. All these are due to serious emotional traumas. The 

result also indicated that child rape leads to sexual dysfunction. This finding is supported by Stephen et 

al. (2010) who revealed that vaginismus is the leading cause of unconsummated marriages and often a 

threat for divorce and health risk. Other effects of child rape as revealed are body pains and injuries, 

sexual transmitted infections as supported in researches by Falayan et al. (2014), Achunike et al. (2014) 

and National Centre for PTSD (2017) that rape is a risk factor for HIV and other infections. The 

findings also indicated school dropout, low school attendance, low academic performance and 

termination of life and education as other effects of child rape. 

 

8. Educational Implication of Child Rape 

Child rape has very serious adverse implications on the education of the child in Nigeria. It is important 

to note that the overall consequences of child rape can affect learning and education directly or 

indirectly, hence rape hampers all children’s life activities including learning. The social stigma and 

shame associated with child rape is capable of causing truancy or school dropout for the rape victim.  

Emotionally, child rape can lead to depression, fear, school phobia and other emotional crisis 

depending on the age of the rape victim. She can develop suicide thoughts, anxiety disorder. Such child 

may feel worthless, guilty, hopeless, regretful which may result to little or no interest in life including 

education, difficulty in concentration in learning, and recall of memories. All these may affect learning 



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and academic performance (Thomson, 2007; Ofuebe, 2015, p. 74). If the rape involves school 

environment or a male teacher, the child may develop school phobia and lack of trust on her male 

teachers forever.  

Emotional trauma generally impairs physical health as well as mental efficiency, both of which impede 

learning. Academically, children with emotional traumas are noted for low grade in school work, 

failure in school examinations, repeating of class or grade and school dropout (Agbo, 2018, p. 143). 

There is no gain-saying that physical consequences of child rape may involve fever, loss of appetite, 

injuries, pains and hospitalization and death, which of course affect attendance to school and life 

adversely.  

It is significant to note that health risks of children are detrimental to their education. A child who is 

infected with sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS, gonorrhea, syphilis and or cervical 

cancer may have her life and education endangered sooner or later.  

 

9. Recommendations 

The following recommendations are made:  

1) Laws should be effective so as to protect the girl child, and bring culprits to justice as quickly as 

possible.  

2) Agencies fighting against rape should partner with the governments, parents, and other stakeholders 

on how the society should treat rape offenders and what to be done to bring succor to the rape victims.  

3) Female children should be taught that they must report to their parents anybody who tries to touch 

their private parts. 

4) Mothers being naturally closer to children should have strong cordial relationship with the children 

to enable children confide in the mothers any event in their lives on daily basis.  

5) Children should not watch pornographic films. Children’s films should be scrutinized in order to 

prevent them from watching immoral films and videos.  

6) Female children should be dressed properly to maintain the dignity of womanhood. 

7) On no account should female children be left under the care of private male teachers, family drivers, 

male neighbours, or security guards alone.  

8) Female children should be discouraged from sitting on the laps of males. 

 

10. Summary 

Rape is a serious offence against humanity at large and women in particular, but child rape is a horror. 

It is very irritating o hear a news of a male adult raping a baby of few months old. However, nothing 

goes for nothing as the research has identified many reasons for such atrocious act against children in 

Nigeria which include; the mishandling of rape cases which seems as if the laws are protecting the rape 



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offenders more than the rape victims, lack of reports of rape cases among other reasons. The effects of 

child rape according the findings are that many rape victims suffer shame and stigmatization, serious 

emotional traumas, sexual dysfunction among others which leave indelible marks on the lives and 

education the girl child.  

However, the researcher is quite optimistic that if the recommendations made in this study are followed 

religiously such as reporting rape cases to the appropriate quarters, and laws handling rape cases 

adequately among other points, that the dust of child rape shall settle.  

 

11. Suggestion for Further Research 

Educational consequences of the rape of Primary School Children in Southeastern Nigeria.  
 

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