Assessment of Rape Prevalence and Reporting Culture in Sokoto State

Rape is among the most severely underreported crimes in Nigeria, reflecting systemic barriers rooted in victim-blaming culture, inadequate legal processes, and fear of social stigma that are particularly acute in conservative northern Nigerian communities. This study assessed rape prevalence and reporting barriers among women aged 15 to 45 in Sokoto North and Birnin Kebbi Local Government Areas, Sokoto State, North West Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 220 women recruited through healthcare facilities and community women's groups. A modified version of the National Sexual Violence Survey instrument was administered with cultural sensitivity adaptations. Results showed that 16.4 percent of respondents disclosed ever experiencing rape or attempted rape, with 8.2 percent reporting an incident within the preceding 12 months. Formal reporting to police had been made in only 5.3 percent of disclosed cases. Primary barriers to reporting were fear of family dishonour (77.8 percent of non-reporters), belief that police would be ineffective (61.1 percent), fear of secondary victimisation (55.6 percent), and financial incapacity to pursue legal action (44.4 percent). Knowledge of rape crisis centres was present in only 14.5 percent of respondents. The study concludes that rape in Sokoto State is substantially under-recorded and under-prosecuted. Recommendations include dedicated sexual violence response units at police commands, female police officers as first responders, legal aid integration, and community awareness campaigns addressing rape mythology.

Keywords: rape, sexual violence, reporting barriers, Sokoto State, gender-based violence