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Recently, the Senate recommended life imprisonment without an option of fine for anyone convicted of defiling a minor. The decision of the Senate came on the heels of rising cases of defilement of children across the country. The resolution on child defilement followed concurrence with the Criminal Code Act (Amendment) Bill 2025, which had earlier been passed by the House of Representatives. The bill, which was presented by Senate Leader, Michael Opeyemi, initially prescribed a five-year jail term for offenders.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, underscored the severity of the menace. According to him, “defilement is even more serious than rape. It is a very serious issue and must carry the most severe punishment. Any defilement of a minor in Nigeria henceforth attracts life imprisonment. Let everyone be aware.” Later, the senators voted to increase the punishment for defilement of minors to life imprisonment. Besides, the Senate also increased the penalty for rape and other forms of forced sexual intercourse against female or male victims to a maximum of 10 years.
A 2014 National Survey on Violence against Children (VACS), which was assisted by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), indicated that one in four women experienced sexual violence in their childhood. It also showed that 35 per cent of women and 17 per cent of men aged 18-24 had experienced at least one instance of childhood sexual abuse before the age of 18. As for those aged 13-17, 25 percent of girls and 11 per cent of boys had reported suffering sexual violence in the previous year.
Also, a UNICEF 2015 Report revealed that one in four girls and one in ten boys in Nigeria had experienced sexual violence before the age of 18. In the same vein, a survey by Positive Action for Treatment Access found that over 31 per cent of girls reported their first sexual encounter as being rape or coerced sex.
We laud the Senate for recommending life imprisonment for those convicted of defiling minors. The crime is heinous and therefore deserves condign punishment. However, there should be no presidential clemency for convicted rapists and those that defile minors. Extending presidential pardon to them will make them to go on rampage with dire consequences to their victims and the society. We call for strict implementation of the law against defilement of minors. Such cases should not be allowed to drag so long to the detriment of the victims. If these cases drag so long and the predators influence justice and get freedom, the victims, their families and the society will be at great risk.
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What are the triggers of child defilement? Some people defile minors for many reasons, ranging from a quest for spiritual powers. Others do it for sexual pleasure. Psychologically unstable people also indulge in the reprehensible act. Unfortunately, many children who are defiled hardly get help because, many times, they are threatened with death if they speak out.
Another national survey on Violence against Children found that six out of ten Nigerian children reported experiencing some form of sexual violence before age 18, with half experiencing physical violence. Of those who reported violence, less than five per cent received any form of support. The vast majority of abusers are known to the child and family. In one study, 90 per cent of abusers were known to the child and family. Over 70 per cent of child defilement cases involve individuals known to the family or related by blood, including fathers and other family members. Perpetrators are frequently found to be neighbours, family members, or customers.
Many cases of child defilement are hidden and go unreported due to stigma, fear, and shame. Societal norms and a culture of silence often protect the abuser over the victim, and families may even cover up abuse by relatives. Some hospital-based studies have shown that defilement cases are mostly presented only when severe, indicating that official hospital data do not capture the full picture.
According to the Nigeria Police Force, 717 cases of rape and child defilement were recorded in the first five months of 2020. A 2023 disclosure by the Lagos State Government showed that 2,588 minors were sexually and emotionally abused between August 2022 and July 2023. Studies indicate that girls are at a higher risk of sexual abuse than boys, with one study showing girls are 2.7 times more likely to be victims. The mean age of victims of intra-familial sexual abuse in one study was 13.3 years.
A four-year review at a Lagos hospital found that 83 per cent of reported sexual assault victims were under 19. Additional risk factors include poverty, low parental education, living in unstable family setups, and displacement due to armed conflict or climate change. The use of minors for rituals and the influence of social media have also been cited as contributing factors. Let those convicted of defiling minors be adequately punished.
