Nigerian Government vow to tackle rape epidemic

The Nigerian government has promised to take decisive action against rapists in order to tackle what they have called the “pandemic within the pandemic”.

On Wednesday, the Minister for Women’s Affairs, Pauline Tallen spoked in the meeting of the Federal Executive Committee (FEC), promising to enforce rape laws throughout the country.

This has come after a recent wave of rape and murder cases in Nigeria which have sparked outrage and the online hashtag #WeAreTired.

On Tuesday of this week, a man was arrested in the rural town of Dangora for allegedly raping 40 women and children in the course of one year. The victims range in age from an 80-year-old woman and girls as young as 10.

Currently, Nigeria’s anti-rape law Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPPA) has only been accepted by 9 states out of 36 and is only enforced in the capital, Abuja. Ms Tallen has said that the government will make sure that VAPPA is adopted and utilized by all 36 states.

The nationwide lockdown imposed to halt the spread of coronavirus has worsened cases of domestic violence and sexual abuse in Nigeria. Women have found themselves trapped with their abuser all day long and children can no longer escape to the relative sanctuary of school.

Ms Tallen said to the FEC, “I know before COVID-19, we have always had pandemic of rape cases and gender-based violence. But with the lockdown due to COVID-19, women and children are locked down with their abusers and the number has escalated three times. There is no state that is an exception.”

Between April and May of 2020 during Nigeria’s lockdown, 80 rape cases were reported in Anambra State. The figure of unreported rapes is thought to be considerably higher.

Photo:@town_crierng