Shocking Report: One in Five Nigerian Women Endure Physical, Sexual Violence

A disturbing statistic reveals that one in every five Nigerian women aged 15 to 49 has experienced physical or sexual violence, a figure that translates to 21 percent of the female population in this age group. This widespread issue underscores that sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) is not a marginal problem but a significant threat with profound consequences for women, families, and communities across the nation. This stark reality has intensified calls for sustained and rigorous media scrutiny of SGBV.

In response to this urgent crisis, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), in collaboration with the European Union (EU) and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), has launched a dedicated Media Corps. This initiative, unveiled in Abuja under the EU-supported End Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Programme, aims to strengthen journalism as a vital tool for exposing SGBV, challenging entrenched institutional failures, and dismantling the pervasive culture of silence that surrounds abuse in Nigeria.

As part of the program, journalists are receiving specialized training designed to equip them with the skills necessary to investigate and report cases of sexual and gender-based violence more effectively, ethically, and sensitively. The Media Corps is strategically designed to move beyond the traditional, often episodic reporting of individual rape, assault, or abuse cases. Instead, it promotes sustained, in-depth journalism that investigates patterns of violence, identifies perpetrators and enablers, critically interrogates institutional responses, and maintains consistent pressure on authorities to deliver comprehensive protection and justice for survivors.

Stakeholders present at the launch emphasized that the fight against SGBV cannot be solely the responsibility of law enforcement agencies and the judicial system. They argued that the media plays an indispensable role in bringing to light abuses that often remain hidden, amplifying the experiences and voices of survivors, challenging deeply ingrained victim-blaming attitudes and harmful social norms, and ensuring that cases do not fade from public attention once the initial news cycle concludes. The new corps will empower journalists with a comprehensive understanding of the legal, psychological, and social dimensions of SGBV, thereby enhancing their capacity to report cases without resorting to sensationalism or practices that could inadvertently traumatize survivors further.

This careful approach is particularly crucial in a country like Nigeria, where fear, social stigma, victim-blaming, and concerns about limited access to justice frequently discourage victims from reporting abuse. Recent research further corroborates the continuing scale and multifaceted nature of violence against women in Nigeria, encompassing intimate-partner violence and sexual abuse among young women and adolescents. For NAPTIP, whose core mandate includes combating trafficking and related forms of exploitation, this partnership presents a significant opportunity to deepen public understanding of the intricate links between human trafficking, sexual exploitation, and other manifestations of gender-based violence.

The initiative is also expected to foster stronger collaboration and synergy among journalists, various government agencies, civil society organizations, and other institutions actively engaged in the prevention of SGBV, protection of survivors, prosecution of offenders, and provision of comprehensive support services. However, stakeholders unequivocally stressed that specialized reporting must be underpinned by an unwavering commitment to ethical journalism. Journalists are mandated to meticulously protect survivors’ dignity and privacy, scrupulously avoid sensational headlines, respect due process throughout their reporting, and ensure that their work does not expose victims to further stigma, retaliation, or psychological harm.

The ultimate ambition articulated by stakeholders is to fundamentally transform SGBV reporting from a disconnected series of breaking-news stories into sustained, impactful accountability journalism. With the alarming reality of one in five Nigerian women reportedly affected by physical or sexual violence, the stakes are undeniably enormous. Therefore, the true measure of the Media Corps’ success will not be merely the number of journalists trained, but rather its members' ability to uncover hidden cases, expose systemic failures within institutions, compel authorities to respond effectively, and crucially, keep SGBV firmly and consistently on Nigeria’s national agenda. In a society where silence often serves to protect perpetrators, the newly established Media Corps is positioned as a powerful force dedicated to ensuring that violence against women does not remain hidden, and that victims do not become forgotten statistics.