PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF RAPE AMONG MINORS IN NSUKKA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, ENUGU STATE IN THE LIGHT OF 2 SAMUEL 13:11-22

1.1 Introduction

Rape can be perpetrated by an individual rapist or a group with each taking his turn. Painfully, most rapists are related or familiar with their victims. It is said that the true measure of a society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members (Nwokeocha, 2009). Sexual predators and rape perpetrators are men who have lost their sense of reasoning and self-control as a result employ illegitimate means to capture their prey. Rapists are men who engage in sexual violence and all manners of abuses by simply deceiving and taking advantage of unprotected women and girls. Since they are most often stronger than their victims, they can go any length to make sure that they achieve their evil purposes (Phiri, 2006).

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.

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1.2 Background of Study

The demand for a king by the Israelites at Ramah in order to be like other nations at a time that they were consistently being tormented by their neighbouring nations led to the appointment of Saul, the son of Kish as the first King of Israel. It is on records that shortly after his appointment, Saul recorded success when he defeated the Amnonites in a war but this success did not last for a long time because of the antipathy between him and Samuel, the priest, especially when he sacrificed at Gilgal before their war against the Philistines. Notably, his relationship with Samuel degenerated when he spared the life of King Agag and other valued animals in a war fashioned by Yahweh as a holy war. A holy war is a war directed by God against the enemies of His chosen nation which demands that the life of such people and the animals should not be spared, that is, total extermination.

Originally, rape was understood to mean the act of taking or abducting a woman or a girl by force in order to have a carnal knowledge of her against her wish. However, rape has been redefined under various legal systems to include other things of forced sexual activity by person of either sex. That is to say, rape perpetrator could either be a male or a female who seizes by force the opposite sex with the mind to plunder, destroy or despoil his/her victim. This extrapolation of the concept of rape does not preclude homosexuality and lesbianism which are also growing phenomena.

Akintunde (2002) perceives rape as an infringement on the right of women and girls as a result, should not be trivialized. She adds that rape is a global challenge which is experienced among people of different races, colours and classes. Unfortunately, rape has not been given the global attention it deserves. This is a lacuna which this paper wishes to address. Nnachi (2008) decries the fact that sexual offences Act passed by the National Assembly since 2006 has not been rightly domesticated in most states in Nigeria. As a result, rapists have continued with their wicked acts unhindered. Nnachi (2011) in his book “Exploration in Sex and Gender Issues” defined rape as an act of seizing a person and forcing sexual intercourse on the person, especially a woman or a girl, to have sexual intercourse against the will of the person.

In describing rape, Iroleh (2006) opines that rape is a violation of the sexual right of the opposite sex. Corroborating this position of Iroleh, Nnachi further adds that rape is associated with violence and expression of wickedness devoid of the feeling of the opposite sexual partner. Because rape involves the use of force by the rapist, the raped most often is left with injury and in severe cases can lead to death. It is on these possible effects that Ridout (1974) challenged the modern society to collectively rise up to wage war against rapists who have destroyed the life of some women and girls.

Many reasons have been advanced as responsible for this societal evil which include impunity, drug abuse, mental disorder, alcoholism, ritual purposes, drug and substance abuse on the part of the perpetrators. Similarly, ignorance, indecent dressing, naivety, lack of precaution are said to be responsible for rape on the part of the victims. Whatever is the reason, rape has resulted in sudden death of victims, suicide, injury, unwanted pregnancy, psychological trauma, sexually transmitted disease, loss of self-worth and stigmatization (Nnachi, 2011).

According to Olajide (2020), what is new today in Nigeria is that the various lockdown imposed on citizens by various levels of government has given rapists an unusual proximity to their prey (victims). He further states that rapists are everywhere including homes, sports arena, business premises, schools, cultural centres, etc. There are no special features to identify rapists (Edeh, 2020). They are usually ubiquitous and familiar with their victims. Rape and similar gender-based offences remain threat to national development and family cohesion. Hardly does any day pass without cases of rape being reported in Nigeria. Rape victims should be encouraged to reflect on the appetites and passions of their abusers, since it helps us to understand something about their personal character.

Therefore, in Nsukka Local Government Area, Enugu State where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Psychological Effects of Rape among Minors in the Light of 2 Samuel 13: 11-22.

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1.3 Statement of Problems

Investigation revealed that sexual predators do not hunt and attack their victims because of offences neither do they rape as a revenge for an offence. They basically attack their victims as a show of impunity. Rapists seek for victims who are considered incapable to effectively resist or retaliate.

Sexual offenders plunder their victims with the mind that nothing will happen in terms of retribution or prosecution. They feel secured from any reprisal attack or injurious consequences of their actions or behaviour. Unfortunately many rapists are allowed to move away with their evil actions. The government is slow in prosecuting sexual offenders. In fact, some law enforcement agents collect bribe from perpetrators and are assisted to evade the consequences of their actions (Nwaokeocha, 2009 & Nnachi, 2011).

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1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to investigate the Psychological Effects of Rape among Minors in Nsukka Local Government Area, Enugu State in the Light of 2 Samuel 13: 11-22. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To evaluate the existing laws in Nigeria that is meant to protect women and girls from sexual abuses;
2. To suggest measures of curbing the menace to the psychological effects of rape;
3. To assess the causes of rape and the reason for its persistence; and
4. To examine the factors responsible for the spate of rape in the area under study with reference to the Light of 2 Samuel 13: 11-22.

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1.5 Research Questions

The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

• What is the existing law in Nigeria that is meant to protect women and girls from sexual abuses?
• What are measures of curbing the menace to the psychological effects of rape?
• What are the causes of rape and the reason for its persistence?
• Are there factors responsible for the spate of rape in the area under study with reference to the Light of 2 Samuel 13: 11-22?

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1.6 Research Hypothesis

In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.

Hypothesis One

• H0: There is no significant psychological influence responsible for rape among minors in the area under study with reference to the Light of 2 Samuel 13: 11-22
• H1: There is a significant psychological influence responsible for rape among minors in the area under study with reference to the Light of 2 Samuel 13: 11-22

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1.7 Significance of Study

The relevance of the study would create awareness to the readers challenging them to see the need and urgency for joint effort in provision of guidance and counselling services to our youths which directly or indirectly would go a long way to reducing social vices and youth's delinquencies and to increasing moral standard of the nation. This perhaps will provide atmosphere for security of the nation.

This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.

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1.8 Scope of Study

The scope of the research is focused on the Psychological Effects of Rape among Minors in the Light of 2 Samuel 13: 11-22. The study will cover only Nsukka Local Government Area, Enugu State as the area under study.

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1.9 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Establishment Policies: Establishment policies posed a serious limitation as most staffs are not ready to release information needed for this project work. There were lots of information needed from the staffs of this establishment to enhance the study which took them time to release or they did not release at all for security purposes, hence the scope was reduced.
3. Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
4. Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
5. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

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1.10 Definition of Terms

Rape: It is the perpetrated by an individual rapist or a group with each taking his turn. Painfully, most rapists are related or familiar with their victims (Nwokeocha, 2009).

Delinquency: This can be defined as a wrong doing, an illegal action usually committed by young ones; it covers a range of different variations of legal and social norms, ranging from minor offences to severe crimes.

Traumatic: This is an internally imposed crisis situation characterized by extreme unpleasant emotion in the youths leading them to confusion. It could be the result of disappointment failure, or death of closed one.