Nigerian president Buhari declares state of emergency on rape crisis

According to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), 1 in 4 women in Nigeria are sexually abused before they turn 18. Furthermore, the majority of sexual abuse cases in Nigeria are not prosecuted. According to Reuters, coronavirus-related lockdowns led to an increase in domestic violence and sexual assaults worldwide. 

The increase of domestic violence and sexual assaults has been particularly noticeable in Nigeria. President Muhammadu Buhari declared a nationwide state of emergency in June 2020 because of the ongoing rape, domestic and sexual violence epidemic in the country. In 2018, the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey noted that 30% of girls and women between 15 - 49 reported being sexually abused.

Nigeria is the most populous nation in Africa. In 1960, the country gained independence from Great Britain. From 1967 to 1970, Nigeria endured a civil war.

Facts about Nigeria:

Population: 225,082,083 (2022 est.)

Land Area: 356,669 sq miles

Languages: English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), Fulani, over 500 indigenous languages

Capital: Abuja

Sources:

Nigeria - The World Factbook (cia.gov)

Few get justice in Nigeria's rape 'crisis': Amnesty | The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News — Nigeria — The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News

Nigerian women take action as rape, assault cases surge during pandemic | Reuters


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