Covid-19 Lockdown Was Horror For The Girl-Child As Many Became Victims Of Sexual Abuse By Fathers

A vicious form of pedophilia is rapidly making it presence in Nigeria. Fathers have now become sexual predators of their daughters.

In the last three months, many cases have been reported of fathers raping their daughters in the country during the lockdown ordered by the Federal Government to curb the spread of coronavirus pandemic 

Anambra State seemed to have more reported cases of the malaise. According to the Director of Child Welfare Services in the state Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Children and Social Welfare, Nkechi Anazodo, not less than 80 cases of rape were recorded in various parts of the state during the COVID-19 lockdown between April and May.

Other States also featured in the list of media reports on the incidence of pedophilia. Among such incidents include:

1. A 13-year-old-girl in Akwa Ibom narrated how her father, Godwin Jeremiah, sexually assaulted her repeatedly in their home in April.
2. In May the police in Akure, Ondo State, arrested a 48-year-old man, Femi Onifade, a welder. He was accused of defiling his two daughters, aged nine and six years.
3. In another beastly action, the Nasarawa State police command arrested a 48-year-old farmer and petty trader, Theddius Audu for reportedly raping and impregnating his 15-year-old daughter Justina.
4. A 38-year-old man was arraigned before a Makurdi Chief Magistrate court for allegedly raping his seven-month-old daughter.
    
   The father, identified as Simon Emeka, was said to have raped the daughter, Prosper Emeka, from when she was only 3 months old. 
5. On 15th April, 2020 police operatives from the Command Gender Unit arrested 43- year- old Akindele Ajewole at Lugbe, Abuja for defiling his 15-year old daughter. 
6. The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons(NATIP) in June reported a case of 17-year-old victim of sexual abuse by her father during the lockdown.

Psychologist Explains Father-Daughter Sex

But why do fathers sleep with their daughters? and what impacts does this distasteful incestuous acts have on the girls

Speaking to our correspondent , a clinical psychologist, Alexanda Stephen Agara, said one of the reasons why fathers indulge in the act is to protect their daughters.

“instead of letting them get sex from else where , they bond and protect their daughters, then fall for raping them,” he stated.

He added that “some fathers are influenced my environmental factors, so, most times you see fathers taking advantage of their daughters as a form of power .”

He further attributed the rape desire of some fathers to personal weakness, adding that “most of these fathers are weak minded.”

Impact On The Daughters

Agara said the girls have faith because the fathers usually take advantage of them when there are at a tender age.

“They don’t have a say compared to someone that is 25 years of age.. its not something that just happen once.”

The psychologist however said the victims do not show any effect at the tender age when the act was being perpetuated, “they is little or no psychological effect.”

“When they grow and begin to understand what is happening that is when they are affected. Most times they become rigid especially towards things about sex as it reduces their sexual drive.”

Reduction of sexual drive is contrary to findings from such researchers who argue that rape increases sex drive in girls. But Agara said ” it happens both ways, so its either it reduces or increases their libido ,its either positive or negative but never all positive.”