Empowering children to resist sexual exploitation, By Emmanuel Onwubiko

“Parents, teach your son, your daughter when to say no to predators loitering around like wild lions looking for innocent children to devour. Teach them to speak out.”

In today’s world, children are in a tight corner in terms of the vagaries and the vicissitudes of undulating sexual violations they are confronted with. Children are at the very risk of being sexually exploited by adult predators and the daredevil activities of these adult sex offenders have been boosted by the evolutionary growth of the social media. Nigerian children are amongst the most affected because of the presence of several factors devolving around the thematic areas of traditions, culture of silence and institutional failures to protect the youngsters who are at the receiving end of attacks to their human dignity by sexual violator.

To prove that the crisis of sexual intimidation and violations of children in Nigeria especially have become troubling, we just have to look at what the statistics are saying regarding these offences of sexual violence against children and the best beginning stage is to look analytically at this fact.

Date: 9 Oct 2025: one of the multiple numbers of convictions of paedophiles in Nigeria which was made within the Kogi State judiciary twenty four hours ago, is not an isolated case but a notorious example of how deeply rooted the cases of child sexual violence have become in Nigeria of today.

The story is that the Kogi State High Court sitting at Anyigba convicted one Husseini Mustapha for the offence of rape and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

The convict was in 2024 charged with the offences of conspiracy, punishable under Section 97(2) of the Kogi State Penal Code, 2019, and rape, contrary to Section 31(2) of the Child Rights Law of Kogi State.

The offence was said to have been committed at Ajakeya, Abocho, Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, on 14 November 2024.

The victim (name withheld), a minor, was reportedly in the company of her sister on their way to a prayer ground when the convict intercepted them and forcefully took her to a nearby bush where he raped her.

Delivering judgment on Wednesday, 8 October 2025, Justice Hauwa Yusuf, after a careful evaluation of the evidence presented before the court, found the convict guilty of rape and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

The court, however, discharged and acquitted the convict of the offence of criminal conspiracy on the grounds that there was no evidence linking him to the alleged accomplice said to be at large.

After the judgment, the prosecuting counsel, Kunle Tolufase, Esq., a Principal Legal Officer with the Kogi State Ministry of Justice, thanked the court for the well-researched verdict and noted that it would serve as a deterrent to others.

Speaking further, Tolufase expressed satisfaction with the outcome, adding that the judgment would send a strong warning to those who indulge in rape and other related sexual offences.

The Guardian reporter who anchored the court’s story stated that he gathered that rape has become increasingly prevalent in most rural communities across Kogi East.

A United Nations agency UNICEF in the year 2017 released a report in which it asserted that abuse in all its forms are a daily reality for many Nigerian children and only a fraction ever receive help. Six out of every 10 children experience some form of violence – one in four girls and 10 per cent of boys have been victims of sexual violence. Of the children who reported violence, fewer than five out of a 100 received any form of support. The drivers of violence against children (VAC) are rooted in social norms, including around the use of violent discipline, violence against women and community beliefs about witchcraft, all of which increase children’s vulnerability.

Nigeria has the largest number of child brides in Africa with more than 23 million girls and women who were married as children, most of them from poor and rural communities. While data suggests a decline of 9 per cent in the prevalence of child marriage since 2003, and a projected further decrease of 6 per cent by 2030, Nigeria’s rapid population growth means that the number of child brides will in fact increase by more than one million by 2030 and double by 2050.

Just over one in four girls and women (27 per cent) aged 15-49 years have undergone female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), a rate that is still lower in Nigeria than in many countries. However, due to its large population, Nigeria has the third highest absolute number of women and girls (19.9 million) who have undergone FGM/C worldwide. While prevalence continues to drop, with a projected further five-point decline by 2030, the population explosion is expected to result in the numbers of those affected to remain unchanged by 2030.

Only 30 per cent of children under five years were registered at birth. Besides being a ‘first right’ of any child, improved birth registration is critical for national planning and governance functions, and serves as a foundation for achieving progress in wider child protection areas and the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals.

Solution

We aim to ensure that more children, including adolescents in Nigeria in both development and humanitarian contexts, have a legal identity and are safe and protected from violence, exploitation, abuse and harm.

A researcher who is a clinical expert by name Natasha Daniels has however given us what I consider as the most profound solutions to these problems being highlighted. The researcher listed the modus operandi of combating the phenomenal rate of sexual violence against children as follows:

1. Talk about body parts early
Name body parts and talk about them very early. Use proper names for body parts, or at least teach your child what the actual words are for their body parts. I can’t tell you how many young children I have worked with who have called their vagina their “bottom.” Feeling comfortable using these words and knowing what they mean can help a child talk clearly if something inappropriate has happened.

2. Teach them that some body parts are private
Tell your child that their private parts are called private because they are not for everyone to see. Explain that mommy and daddy can see them naked, but people outside of the home should only see them with their clothes on. Explain how their doctor can see them without their clothes because mommy and daddy are there with them and the doctor is checking their body.

3. Teach your child body boundaries
Tell your child matter-of-factly that no one should touch their private parts and that no one should ask them to touch somebody else’s private parts. Parents will often forget the second part of this sentence. Sexual abuse often begins with the perpetrator asking the child to touch them or someone else.

4. Tell your child that body secrets are not okay
Most perpetrators will tell the child to keep the abuse a secret. This can be done in a friendly way, such as, “I love playing with you, but if you tell anyone else what we played they won’t let me come over again.” Or it can be a threat: “This is our secret. If you tell anyone I will tell them it was your idea and you will get in big trouble!” Tell your kids that no matter what anyone tells them, body secrets are not okay and they should always tell you if someone tries to make them keep a body secret.

5. Tell your child that no one should take pictures of their private parts
This one is often missed by parents. There is a whole sick world out there of pedophiles who love to take and trade pictures of naked children online. This is an epidemic and it puts your child at risk. Tell your kids that no one should ever take pictures of their private parts.

6. Teach your child how to get out of scary or uncomfortable situations
Some children are uncomfortable with telling people “no”— especially older peers or adults. Tell them that it’s okay to tell an adult they have to leave, if something that feels wrong is happening, and help give them words to get out of uncomfortable situations. Tell your child that if someone wants to see or touch private parts they can tell them that they need to leave to go potty.

7. Have a code word your children can use when they feel unsafe or want to be picked up
As children get a little bit older, you can give them a code word that they can use when they are feeling unsafe. This can be used at home, when there are guests in the house or when they are on a play date or a sleepover.

8. Tell your children they will never be in trouble if they tell you a body secret
Children often tell me that they didn’t say anything because they thought they would get in trouble, too. This fear is often used by the perpetrator. Tell your child that no matter what happens, when they tell you anything about body safety or body secrets they will NEVER get in trouble.

9. Tell your child that a body touch might tickle or feel good
Many parents and books talk about “good touch and bad touch,” but this can be confusing because often these touches do not hurt or feel bad. I prefer the term “secret touch,” as it is a more accurate depiction of what might happen.

10. Tell your child that these rules apply even with people they know and even with another child
This is an important point to discuss with your child. When you ask a young child what a “bad guy” looks like they will most likely describe a cartoonish villain. You can say something like, “Mommy and daddy might touch your private parts when we are cleaning you or if you need cream — but no one else should touch you there. Not friends, not aunts or uncles, not teachers or coaches. Even if you like them or think they are in charge, they should still not touch your private parts.”

I am not naïve enough to believe that these discussions will absolutely prevent sexual abuse, but knowledge is a powerful deterrent, especially with young children who are targeted due to their innocence and ignorance in this area.

And one discussion is not enough. Find natural times to reiterate these messages, such as bath time or when they are running around naked. And please share this article with those you love and care about and help me spread the message of body safety!
(This article first appeared on Natasha Daniels’ website, Anxious Toddlers).

*COMRADE EMMANUEL NNADOZIE ONWUBIKO is the founder of the HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) and was NATIONAL COMMISSIONER OF THE NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF NIGERIA.