Effect of Rape on Physical and Psychological Aspects of Girl Child in Northern Nigeria

Rape is considered as a heartrending moment in a woman’s or girl’s life, it is reality but remain hidden to appropriate authority due to certain distress associated with stigma against the survivor, fear of victimization, cultural barrier, religious sentiments, shame influential, and lack of cognizance on human right. Rape is simply when sexual intercourse occur without ones consent (not willing) or force a person to have sexual intercourse against his/her will, it happen when someone is intoxicated from alcohol or drugs and sometimes for ritual purpose. It can be through vagina, anus or mouth. In northern Nigeria, rape is defined under section 282 of the panel code as. (a) Any act of rape against her will, (b) obtained by putting her fear, threats or death, (iii) with her consent when the man knows that he is not her husband and that her concern is given because she believes that he is the man who to whom she is or believe herself to be lawfully married to, (iv) with or without her consent when she is under fourteen years of age. The main objective of this paper is to examine the following. Why do men rape? How does rape harm victims psychologically? , What should I do if I have been raped? How can I protect myself from rape? What is the best way to prevent STD. Rape as felony, is among the most serious crime a person can commit, men as well as women and children can be raped. This paper will seek an answer to the above questions and provide some recommendations which will be of great importance to social agencies, survivors, parents and security agencies.