A 30-year-old Sunday Ukeme, who confessed that he defiled (rape) his neighbour’s 13-year-old daughter, says it’s under the influence of alcohol.
The suspect who is now cooling his heels in Akodo Police Station, Lagos allegedly rape the minor after the suspect’s wife left for a vigil in a church in the neighbourhood.
The Lagos State Police Command’s spokesperson, Adekunle Ajisebutu confirmed that the suspect was arrested on October 4, 2021, saying that the incident occurred at about 10.23 pm, on September 20, 2021, in Idaso town, Ibeju Lekki,
Ajisebutu narrated that the victim’s mother who travelled out of town for three weeks had kept her daughter in the custody of the suspect’s wife, Mary Sunday.
He said, “According to the victim’s mother, who reported the case at the police station, when she returned from the journey, the victim reported to her that she was defiled by the suspect.
“Consequent upon the report lodged at the police station on October 4, 2021, detectives arrested the suspect. During interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime. He, however, pleaded for mercy, blaming his shameful, immoral and criminal act on the influence of alcohol.”
For thorough investigation and prosecution, Ajisebutu said that the case has been transferred to the gender unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Lagos, while the victim has been taken to the hospital for medical attention.
Increasing Sexual Abuse cases in Nigeria
Regardless of the Nationwide campaign against sexual abuse in Nigeria, the cases of rape have been on the increase in the country, hardly there is a day in the country without a media report on sexual violence and mostly the victims are minor.
A German company specializing in market and consumer data, STATISTA, reported that in 2019 there were 59 reported cases of sexual violence in Nigeria.
The report claims that the majority of the victims were female accounted for 56 cases making them the majority compared to their male counterparts.
The Informant247 observed that a Higher percentage of rapists were mainly people that victims knew, mostly their relatives and neighbours. A very small percentage were absolute strangers.
The Informant247 also found that more than 70% of reported rape case victims were minors – mostly under the age of full legal responsibility.
‘Alcohol and Drug Abuse’, major causative factor of rape
A significant percentage of rape cases could be traced to alcohol and drug abuse.
On 29 August 2021, the Ogun state police command reveal the confession of a 33-year-old rape perpetrator, Imoleayo Adekoya who claimed that he raped a 27-year-old lady under the influence of Alcohol.
In an interview with the PUNCH HealthWise, a health professional Dr Lolu Ojo proffers that checking alcohol and drug abuse among youths by the Federal Government will be a decisive action to stop the rising rape cases in the country.
Ojo, a Consultant Pharmacist explained that no rational human being will be involved in rape because it is not usual with our societal norms.
He stated that over 45 per cent of rape cases can be ascribed to drugs and an increase in consumption of alcohol.
He resolved that regulating indiscriminate consumption of alcohol and drug abuse among the youths might help reduce the sexual atrocity.