After the report of a Nigerian postgraduate student being sentenced to 10 years in the UK for raping a 17-year-old girl, one disturbing comment read, “Why do I feel like this is a lie? In Nigeria you know this and rape.”
This comment is harmful because it normalizes and trivializes rape — one of the most traumatic crimes anyone can experience. Suggesting that rape is something people “know and do” in Nigeria not only paints the country in a negative light but also undermines the fight against sexual violence. Such comments discourage victims from speaking out, make light of their pain, and send the wrong message that sexual assault is somehow acceptable or common practice. Rape should never be downplayed or joked about.
LINKS
https://x.com/NigeriaStories/status/1985674652027408787
