756 sexual violence cases recorded in seven months in Nigeria
Nigeria recorded 756 cases of sexual and gender-based violence between January and July 2026, according to data from the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), prompting renewed calls for stronger action against perpetrators.
NAPTIP said it investigated 549 of the reported cases, made 64 arrests and rescued 183 victims during the seven-month period. Only two cases had resulted in successful convictions at the time of the report.
Since its establishment, NAPTIP has recorded 5,255 reported cases, leading to 2,887 investigations, 605 arrests and 2,592 rescued victims. Only 40 cases have resulted in successful convictions, according to the agency’s figures.
The figures have raised concerns about the gap between reported cases, arrests and successful prosecution, with experts calling for stronger enforcement of existing laws, faster judicial processes and better support for survivors.
The wider scale of gender-based violence is also reflected in the 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey. It found that 21% of women aged 15–49 had experienced physical or sexual violence, while only 24% of survivors sought help to stop the violence. About 58% neither sought help nor told anyone.
The report also points to the role of social and economic factors. NAPTIP identified poverty, cultural practices and insecurity among factors contributing to sexual and gender-based violence. Meanwhile, data from the Womanity Index 2025 found that domestic or intimate-partner violence accounted for 51% of reported gender-based violence cases, with 76% of incidents occurring in the home.
The latest figures therefore highlight not only the scale of sexual violence in Nigeria but also a persistent challenge in turning reports into arrests, convictions and effective protection for survivors. Experts say tougher enforcement, improved survivor support and greater accountability are needed to close that gap.
