Child sexual abuse in Nigeria is an offence under several sections of chapter 21 of the country’s criminal code. The age of consent is 18. UNICEF reported in 2015 that one in four girls and one in ten boys in Nigeria had experienced sexual violence before the age of 18. According to a survey by Positive Action for Treatment Access, over 31.4 percent of girls there said that their first sexual encounter had been rape or forced sex of some kind. The Centre for Environment, Human Rights, and Development reported that 1,200 girls had been raped in 2012 in Rivers, a coastal state in southeastern Nigeria. According to UNICEF, six out of ten children in Nigeria experience emotional, physical, or sexual abuse before the age of 18, with half experiencing physical violence. Abuse has also occurred in religious settings, such as within Protestant denominations and amongst Muslims that practice polygamy.
Girl child
Conditions that increase the risk of girl-child sexual assault in Nigeria can be found in schools, baby factories and the practice of child labour. Studies conducted in Nigeria disclose that young girls are victims in majority of reported assault cases in hospitals. A four-year review of sexual assault cases at LASUTH that began in 2008 and ended in December 2012, showed that out of a total 287 reported cases of sexual assault, 83% of the victims were below the age of 19.[9] A one-year survey conducted at Enugu State University Teaching Hospital between 2012 and 2013 revealed that 70% of sexual assault victims were under the age of 18. In the Enugu survey, majority of the victims knew their perpetrators and the assault occurred inside uncompleted buildings and the victims or perpetrators residence.
Child labour
One of the traditional means of socializing children is through trading.[11] However, the introduction of young girls into street trading increases their vulnerability to sexual harassment. Sexual abuse of young girls in Nigeria is linked to child labour.
Religious and communal stigma associated with surrogacy and adoption has created a rise in baby factories in Nigeria. A large number of female victims in the baby factories are young adolescents.[13] Operators of the baby factories mostly prey on pregnant young girls who are from lower income households, unmarried and are afraid of the public stigma associated with teenage pregnancy.[14] Though, majority of the girls who enter the factory are pregnant, some of the girls in the factories were kidnapped or bartered to the operators. These girls are then raped solely for the purpose of procreation. Poverty and inaccessibility to funds for parents to take care of their wards has contributed to child sexual abuse
Child abuse refers to physical, emotional, or sexual harm inflicted on a child. While child abuse often takes the form of specific actions, such as hitting, it is also possible for inaction to cause harm, as in the case of neglect.Physical abuse involves non-accidental harming of a child by, for example, beating, burning, or breaking bones. Verbal or emotional abuse involves harming a child by, for example, belittling them or threatening physical or sexual acts. Child sexual abuse is the deliberate exposure of a minor child to sex or sexual activities that the child cannot comprehend or consent to. This behavior includes acts such as inappropriate touching of a child’s breasts or genitalia, someone exposing their genitalia to a child, fondling, oral-genital contact, genital and anal intercourse, as well as exhibitionism, voyeurism, and exposure to pornography. Lasting emotional trauma can result from any form of abuse.Child neglect occurs when someone does not provide the necessities of life to a child, either intentionally or with reckless disregard for the child’s well-being. This can include physical neglect, such as withholding food, clothing, shelter, or other necessities. Emotional neglect includes withholding love, comfort, or affection. Medical neglect occurs when medical care is withheld. (To learn more about child neglect, see our Diagnosis Dictionary.)Households in which participants suffer from alcoholism, substance abuse, or anger issues demonstrate higher occurrences of child abuse as compared to households without. Child abuse can result in both short- and long-term injury or even death. Some children may be unaware that they are victims of child abuse. Child abuse can occur in any cultural, ethnic, or income group.
Symptoms, Causes and Treatment
It’s not always easy to recognize when a child has been abused. Children who are abused are often afraid to complain because they are fearful that they will be blamed or that no one will believe them; abusers may directly tell them that the abuse is their fault or that it occurred because they were “bad.” Additionally, the person who abused them may be someone they love very much and want to protect. Parents who are not themselves abusive may be unable to recognize symptoms of abuse because they trust the abuser or are in denial.Parents should watch for unexplained changes in a child’s body or behavior. A formal examination should be conducted only if a parent has reason to suspect their child has been abused; otherwise, the child may become fearful. Parents should be alert to any of the following changes:Signs of Physical Abuse:Any injury (bruise, burn, fracture, abdominal, or head injury) that cannot be explained, or that don’t match up with the explanation given.
Signs of Sexual Abuse:
Fearful behavior (nightmares, depression, unusual fears, attempts to run away)
Abdominal pain
Bedwetting
Urinary tract infection
Genital pain or bleeding
Sexually transmitted disease
Extreme sexual behavior or knowledge that seems inappropriate for the child’s age
Signs of Emotional Abuse:
Dramatic change in self-confidence
Social withdrawal
Headaches or stomachaches with no medical causeAbnormal fears,
increased nightmares, or attempts to run away;
may avoid certain situations or people
Persistent anxiety or worry about doing something “wrong”
Depression
Poor school performance or a sudden loss of interest in school“Regressing” developmentally, either by losing previously acquired developmental skills or by restarting old behaviors
Signs of Neglect:
Failure to gain weight (especially in infants)Poor hygiene
Desperately affectionate behavior
Voracious appetite, including stealing or hiding food
Stealing money or other necessary itemsLack of adequate clothing or basic necessities
Failure to attend school regularly
What are the four types of child abuse?
Abuse is typically categorized into one of four types: physical abuse, psychological or emotional abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect. While some children are victims of just one type of abuse, it’s possible for children to experience multiple types, even all four types. At least one in seven children in the U.S. experiences physical abuse and/or neglect each year, the CDC reports; this number is thought to be an underestimate. While most are victims of neglect, nearly 20 percent are estimated to experience physical abuse. One in four girls and one in 13 boys are sexually abused before the age of 18, according to the CDC. Is spanking considered child abuse? Is declining medical care for religious reasons considered child abuse?
Causes
A combination of individual, relational, community, and societal factors contribute to the risk of child maltreatment and abuse. Children are never responsible for the harm inflicted upon them, but certain individual characteristics have been found to increase a child’s risk of being maltreated. Risk factors are contributing factors, not direct causes.
Examples of risk factors:Disabilities or mental retardation in children that may increase caregiver burdenSocial isolation of familiesParents’ lack of understanding of children’s needs and child developmentParents’ history of domestic abuse
Poverty and other socioeconomic disadvantages, such as unemploymentFamily disorganization, dissolution, and violence, including intimate partner violenceLack of family cohesion
Substance abuse in the familyYoung, single, or non-biological parents
Poor parent-child relationships and negative interactions
Parental thoughts and emotions support maltreatment behaviors
Parental stress and distress, including depression or other mental health conditions
Community violence
Are people who were abused as children more likely to become abusers themselves?
Evidence suggests that victims of child abuse are more likely to engage in violent or abusive behavior themselves. However, this is far from a foregone conclusion, and research suggests that the majority of people who were abused as children are able to escape this so-called “cycle of violence.” Cultivating self-control, pursuing education, and working in a satisfying job are all linked to a substantially lower risk of engaging in abusive behavior as an adult.Are disabled or mentally ill children more likely to be abused?Sadly, children with disabilities or developmental disorders such as ADHD are at heightened risk of being abused. Such children tend to have significant needs and rely more on adults for basic care, which increases the burden on caregivers; children with ADHD or other developmental disorders may also be more likely to “act out,” frustrating parents and potentially leading to abuse. Some abusers may also deliberately take advantage of disabled children, seeing them as “easy targets” of physical or sexual abuse.
Does poverty increase the risk of child abuse?
Is parental age related to child abuse?
Treatment
If someone suspects a child has been abused, they should contact a pediatrician or a local child protective agency for help. Physicians are legally obligated to report all suspected cases of abuse or neglect to authorities. They can also recommend a therapist and provide the necessary information for investigators. Doctors may also testify in court to obtain legal protection for the child or to help criminally prosecute an individual suspected of engaging in child sexual abuse.If it’s suspected that a child has been sexually abused, the child should be examined as soon as possible by a trained health care professional. It is imperative that any abused child be given immediate access to special support and treatment; a doctor’s exam should not be delayed for any reason. Many signs of injury related to sexual abuse are temporary. Ideally, the exam should occur within 72 hours of the event or discovery. A complete physical exam must always be performed so that the examiner can look for any signs of physical or sexual abuse. These two forms of abuse can—and often do—coexist. The longer the abuse continues, the less likely the child will make a full physical or emotional recovery.
Whatever the nature of the abuse, steps should be taken immediately to report the abuse and obtain help. Delaying a report decreases the child’s chances for a full recovery.
If he or she has been abused, a child will benefit from the services of a qualified mental health professional. Parents and other members of the family may be advised to seek counseling so that they’ll be able to provide the support and comfort the child needs. If someone in the family is responsible for the abuse, a mental health professional may be able to treat that person successfully, as well.If a child has been abused, a parent may be the only person who can help him or her. Do not delay reporting suspicions of abuse. Denying the problem will only worsen the situation. In any case of child abuse, the safety of the abused youngster is of primary concern. He or she needs to be in a safe environment free from the potential for continuing abuse.In many cases, children who are abused or neglected struggle with lasting emotional repercussions, even after the abuse is stopped. A child who has been abused or otherwise severely mistreated may become depressed or develop suicidal, withdrawn, or violent behavior. An older child may use drugs or alcohol, try to run away, or abuse others. The younger the child is and the closer the child’s relationship to the abuser, the more serious the emotional damage tends to be. As adults, they may develop marital and sexual difficulties, depression, or suicidal behavior. With early intervention and treatment, these outcomes may be avoided.What is the best treatment for child abuse?
Parents or other caregivers should first ensure that the child receives appropriate medical care, especially in cases of physical or sexual abuse. In some cases, regular follow-up appointments may be required. To help the child navigate the emotional aftereffects of abuse, psychotherapy is critical. Trauma-focused therapies can be especially useful, as they help children cope with distressing memories and slowly learn to trust adults again. Non-abusing parents may also participate in therapy with the child, with the aim of rebuilding trust and strengthening the parent-child bond. Parents may also wish to seek individual therapy to help navigate feelings of guilt and learn strategies for protecting the child from harm in the future.I think a child may be experiencing abuse. What should I do?Anyone who sincerely suspects a child is being neglected or abused should report their suspicions to authorities; in some states, they have a legal duty to do so, even if they’re not what’s considered a “mandatory reporter” (teacher, social worker, etc.).
In Nigeria, please keep these phone numbers handy; they may become useful in helping ourselves and others:
1). Rape:
08072732255
2). Violation of Girls and Women Helpline
08072732255
3). Child Abuse HelpLine
08085753932
08102678442
4). Adult Domestic Violence
08102678443
08057542266
5). Child Domestic Violence
08107572829
08131643208.
6). Nigerian Army Human Rights (NAHR) (If you are harassed by Army officials)
08160134303
08161507644
7). Rapid Response Squad
070-55350249
070-35068242
080-79279349
8). Ambulance:
112, 199
9). Depression/Suicide Prevention Lines:
08062106493
08092106493
09080217555
09034400009
08111909909
07013811143
10). Police Emergency Numbers: 01-4931260, 01-4978899
11). Inspector General of Police (IGP) 08059666666 (SMS only)
12). State Security Service (SSS): 08132222105- 08132222105–9
13). DSS ANTI-KIDNAP HELP LINES
08101272302
08025713190
08176878575
09058530351
14). Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC)
122
07002255372