799 rape suspects arrested in 5 months - Inspector General of Police Nigeria. Is this a good or a bad news?, I mean this is suppose to a great news, but my question is how have the country grown to harbor an increasing number of sex maniacs?. The actual cases of rape is less than the reported cases because of RAPE CULTURE. Currently, NIGERIA has been engulfed in this ravaging crisis.
The issue of Rape Culture leaves its victim with a stigmata that stands as discouragement from reporting their perpetrators, this has prevented justice from being served. In most cases like we saw in my last post HERE, the victims are wrongly blamed by the public for alleged “indecent” dressing, then what about that 2 years old girl?, the 10 year old?, that innocent 8 months old baby?... Yes! these cases are not myth, they are real. Will you also blame them for dressing indecently?.
And although rape culture is rampant and has been deep rooted in the patriarchal structures that were fashioned to make men enjoy societal values. Today women are not only the burden bearers when it comes to rape culture men share a smaller part too, although it's a rare situation. The men are not to be ignored when it comes to the subject matter, because women can sexually assault men and the society will turn blind eye. Although on rare occasions, but male victims should not be left without legal protection.
Why we are concerned about Rape Culture and its effect on victims is not just about reducing numbers, because the problem has been cut from the surface, unless we kill from its root.
Sexual assault (rape) has a way of dehumanises the victims and dragging their sense of self-worth into thrash. All hands must be on deck to leave no place for offenders in our society. Women and men of all ages must be adequately protected.
The recent increase in cases of rape is a crisis that gradually damage the mental state of the citizens within the country.
