UPSURGE OF SEXUAL ABUSE IN NIGERIA DURING COVID - 19 PANDEMIC

Résumé

The concern of this paper is sexual abuse that was common during Covid-19 pandemic in Nigeria. It did not neglect the fact that sexual abuse comes in various forms like incest, homosexuality, lesbianism, child prostitution, boys initiating sex with older women and even feelings toward animals. In all, this paper paid attention to rape from the perspective of men forcing ladies and children for sex. This was common in Nigeria during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. At a stage, seven hundred and seventeen (717) cases of rape were reported in Nigeria during the time of pandemic lock down. Causes of rape were identified as early childhood environmental factor, antisocial personality traits, mental illness, sexual gratification, wickedness, anger and effect of drugs among others. All these factors eventually result into rape that had adverse effect on victims in form of depression, physical injury, shame and unsafe abortion. It was then recommended that proper parenting must be emphasized through governmental regular awareness programs and Churches’ counselling sessions. Also, men caught in this act ought to be prosecuted and decent dressing among ladies and children should be encouraged. Descriptive research of correlational type was used for this study, since it attempted to solve the problems of sexual abuse in Nigeria by appealing to the use of existing phenomenon.