Rape
has gotten out of hand in Nigeria. The same way women, in different region,
give birth on a daily basis; rape is reported in different parts of the country
every day. In fact, National Dailies are now incomplete a day without
publishing a rape-case. Imagine, a 30-year-old man attacked, raped and
impregnated a poor 12-year-old girl in Ado-Ekiti area of Ekiti State.
Consequently, the innocent girl, an orphan, dropped out of school. According to
Sun news report, a gang of young men deceived, raped and eventually murdered a
middle-aged salesgirl in Ughelli North Local government, Delta state.
Likewise,
on first October, 2016, the National Mirror reported a case of 19-year-old
girl. The lady was raped and video-recorded by an ‘okada’ rider who, eventually,
claimed to be her boyfriend. According to Daily Trust publication (October 27,
2016), Kaduna state Police command arrested a man of 32 for raping a girl of 14
until she fell into coma. Can you also imagine? An innocent pregnant house
wife, 22-years-old, was repeatedly raped right inside her matrimonial home in
Kano State.
These
are like a drop in the ocean compared to thousands of cases recorded monthly in
Nigeria. But what exactly are the underlining causes of rape in Nigeria today?
Shall we blame it on indecent dressings and other similar factors well known to
the populace? Well, before making further judgment, let us also examine these
two cases:
A
woman left her two-year-old baby at the custody of a close-door neighbor in
Abia State. Hours later, the baby returned weeping and bleeding from her pubic
region. The poor 2-year-old was raped by a 65-year-old man. Similarly, at
Oshodi—Lagos, 28-year-old tailor, identified as Itua took a 2-years-old while
her mother went to urinate at their backyard. He fingered the baby and
eventually tore her private part (Vanguard).
Presently, she is at the Lagos State University Teaching hospital (LASUTH).
Based on these facts, it will be quite parochial for us continually blame
victims for contributing the lion share of the heinous act—rape is not a
victim’s fault, but the perpetrator’s. And the perpetrators successfully carry
out the act because of the wide-fired resources exposed to them.
Virtually all Nigerian men and young men watch
pornography in no less than 5 times a week. Surveys conducted on Nigerian porn
consumers confirmed. A social media analyst, Subomi Plumptre, revealed in an
interview with on BNTV that Nigerians search for pornography more than USA—the
World biggest porn consumers.
An
online portal, naijaporntube.com also conducted a survey last year. The survey
reported 85 percent views, visitors and major downloads are Nigerians. Mr.
Okonta, the site’s chief executive stated: “Although, we frown at porn in
Nigeria, Nigerians watch the highest porn sites daily. From Lagos to Sambisa
forest, they all watch it.” To justify his claim, Mr. Okonta added, “Let me
give you statistics from when I started 3 years, seven months ago. Since then
7million users visited the site apart from 90million page views.” This is pure
evidence that virtually all Nigerians watch porno even down to 7-year-olds.
“Yes,
we watch porn, but what has that got to do with rape?” A practical question
from potential detractors! But the record is clearer than a filter paper. Even
a layman will admit the stimulating effect of pornographic films on his libido.
A rapist interviewed by Beneke 1982 said: “I
went to a porno bookstore and saw a porn movie. It was a guy coming from behind
a girl and attacking her and raping her. That’s when I started having rape
fantasies. When I saw that movie, it was like somebody lit a fuse from my
childhood on up…I just went out and raped.” Just like alcohol, pornography is
addictive and intoxicating. Every single obscene image captures the brain, the
body and the soul. They set the body on fire, paralyze the conscience, and
mount a hell of pressure on the viewer, compelling him to “go out there and
practice” what he had seen—with whomever, wherever, and however.
In
1983, John Briere and Malamute carried out a survey on 356 male college
students. The students were asked: “If you could be assured that no one would
know and that you could in no way be punished for engaging in the following
acts, how likely…would you be to commit such acts?” The researchers listed two
sexual acts: one, forcing a female to do something she didn’t want to do and
two, “rape.” 60 percent of the students indicated that under normal circumstances,
they would rape, use force or do both.
Recently, a 13-year-old boy was sentenced for raping a
9-year-old in United Kingdom. “The youngster, who also sexually assaulted two
other boys aged seven and eleven was found to have searched online for gay rape,
gay porn, and gay porn rape” (Mirrors.uk).
Ariel Castrol, a convicted kidnapper and
sexual offender disclosed that sexual problems and his addiction to porn had
“taken a toll in his mind.” Also, between 1991 and 2006, John Xydia pleaded
guilty to 25 counts of rape and 61 counts of indecent assault. John later
revealed to have seen himself as some sort of porn star.
What
more do we need to depict the disastrous and intoxicating effect of pornography
on rape, especially in Nigeria? Neurologists and psychologists have
shown that images register faster and longer in the brain and stimulate
impulse; they stimulate the nerves and tissues of body to “do what you’ve
seen!” And now, rapists, themselves testified to it: pornography induces rape.
In fact, the best way to describe their relationship is in the words of Robin
Morgan: “Pornography is the theory; rape is the practical.”
Rape
is rampant in our society. Every day, women and girls lose their pride and
dignity to this monstrous act. Some die in the process. While others live in
pain, trauma and guilt all their lives. According to research, the major cause
of rape is pornography. And Nigerians now watch more pornography than any other
nations—research shows. According to experts, it is nearly impossible for a man
to control his libido after downloading every scene in a pornographic film into
his brain. At this juncture, it is obvious: in order to quell a smoke, we must
first remove the firewood responsible for the smoke. That is the same we must
do now! If we must end rape in Nigeria then, let us join our hands together and
fight against pornography.
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