Edo hospital records over 80 rape cases in 7 months

A pathologist with the Central Hospital, Benin yesterday
disclosed that the hospital recorded no fewer than 80
cases of rape from March to mid-October this year.

Dr. Jude Uchendu, a consultant pathologist in the
Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine in the
hospital, made the disclosure in an interview with the News
Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin.

He said more than 90 per cent of the cases were committed
by people known by the victims with a significant number
committed by neighbours or blood relations.

Acording to him, only few were carried out by strangers,
such as armed robbers and people who met the girls on
their way and took them to uncompleted buildings.
Uchendu also said some of the perpetrators of the crime
were either girls' fathers or caregivers.

"Between the month of March and October, we have
interviewed over 80 patients and unfortunately, most of
them are less than 18 years.

"This figure is only a tip of the iceberg because most
people that are raped do not come to hospital to complain.

"The few victims that come to the hospital to complain do
not pursue the matter as a legal case," Uchendu said.

He said rape cases were becoming an epidemic and
should be treated as a public health issue by stakeholders.

"We need people that will talk about it so that the public
will know how to deal with such situations," Uchendu said.

He said the victims were usually threatened by the
perpetrators and thus, they did not tell their parents. The
doctor urged parents to spend more time with their children
so that they could monitor their activities and whereabouts.

He also called on the government to do something about
the large number of uncompleted buildings, which he said
served as hideouts for criminals and unemployed youths.

"It is observed that there are a lot of homes where parents
are too busy, children are left in the care of neighbours or
relatives.

"Parents should spend more time with their children, teach
them about sex and teach them how to defend themselves
so that in cases where they are exposed to rape they can
run away.

"They should also teach them about their private part and
to say no when people try to play with it," Uchendu said.