The Oxford Learners Dictionary defines rape as a forceful way of having intercourse with a person without her consent.
Sometimes it occurs under durex, as the woman is threatened with dangerous objects.
Despite efforts by relevant stakeholders to tackle the menace of rape in the society, rape cases have continued to rise.
On a daily basis, it is either a minor is raped or you hear of a full- fledged married or unmarried woman being raped. It is not just minor being molested, infants are also raped.
Sometimes we hear of female students narrating how they encounter gang of rapists at different locations or in their schools.  Women in rural localities are not spared.
Some of the ladies resist and prefer to die with them instead of being raped. And a lot go unannounced.
Not too long, a woman in one of the local areas, had also alleged how a man who claimed to be her husband’s friend, tricked her to give him a matchete to cut plantain. After cutting the plantain, he treathened her with the knife and allegedly raped her.
We have had several cases that are unreported because of stigmatisation and mockery in the society.  How long will this continue to thrive?
Recently, a case went viral, where a teenage girl was allegedly gang-raped by a group of boys.
A lot of factors could have been responsible for these. Some people say indecent dressing can be responsible. When a woman dresses half naked which can tempt the rapist. There are those who see women in that circumstance but throw away their eyes.
What does a  three to four-year-old girl possess that will attract a rapist if it is not an evil or criminal intention to determine if that kind of action should take place.
The dangers associated with rape are enormous on the side of the victim.
A legal practitioner, John Peters, said, it is a criminal action against humanity.
He said it is criminal action in the sense that it was done without the consent of the victim who the action was taken upon.
According to him, when she realises that it was carried out without her consent, she feels demoralised, abandoned, humiliated probably because nobody came to her rescue.
A pharmacist, Angel Uche, said social stigma in the neighbourhood is another problem associated with rape and stressed that the victim finds it difficult to mingle with others thereby dissociates herself from peers.
In her words: “Depression that is associated with rape lingers on to the extent that the victim feels that every social contact with the opposite sex will lead to rape.  Women don’t have peace any longer. Anywhere you find yourself, you are so apprehensive because one dirty human being may appear from nowhere to rape you”.
According to a medical expert, Benjamin Udoh, the health status of the rapist is unknown so the tendency of contacting Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) is possible, as well as HIV/AIDS.
“Unwanted pregnancy is also a danger associated with rape case”, he said.
He said: “If it is a virgin, the trauma resulting from that forceful penetration is huge. It can also cause injury to genital area leading to ailments”.
A teacher, Mrs Ndidi Emeh, said  women should begin to do something because it is an issue that is becoming scary and  said that much has not been done over the decades.
She said the society should not be raising a generation of people whose life ambition is to be hurting others in their environment.
“It is heart-breaking to hear that three nine-year-old children were raped”, she emphasised.
In her words: “We’ve been silent enough and we have to break this culture of silence. We are living in denial and we have to focus on the pressures and ills of the time we find ourselves.
“I think we must begin to take our destinies in our hands bearing in mind that we are human beings in a complex environment”.
A nurse, Nkechi, said some rapists may be psychologically sick and need help.  A man may love his wife, he said and still abuses her even to death.
She said: “This is a form of imbalance and emotionally unstable person who is unable to manage himself. You see a situation where a man finishes beating his wife and starts begging for forgiveness. He needs a form of therapy”.
She appealed to the government that provides the law which covers every society to protect the weak from the strong and said that the law should provide a balance for women.
A school teacher, Mercy Nnamdi, condemned a situation when cases of rape against children and women are reported at the appropriate quarters and money is being demanded for proper documentation.
She said sometimes the perpetrator goes away with it and as a result of frustration, an affected mother or victim may decide to withdraw due largely to the fact that she does not have anything to offer before her case can be handled.
She called on law enforcement agents to be sensitised and more educated about that as it concerns women. “When rape cases are reported, law enforcement agents should as a matter of fact follow up to logical conclusion. It can be anybody’s turn”, she said.
According to her, while the efforts  of some of the officers are commended, much is still being expected.
A legal practitioner, Nkem Diri, said a quicker justice system that is up and doing in terms of rape cases is highly needed.
She stressed that it demands the urgency that the matter requires, ensuring that the case does not drag for too long.
She said when rape cases drag for too long it will be stressful on both the victim and her family. “They may lose interest and decide to let it go even after paying money to a lawyer”, she noted.
People should be held accountable for their actions. When that is done, women will feel bold to speak up when they and their wards are abused.
One of the things affecting women for not speaking out sometimes when they find themselves in abusive situations is the issue of mockery.
Women should report rape cases to the appropriate quarters as early as possible, seek justice and surely will be re-integrated into the society.
A medical practitioner, Mike Ibe, said a victim should be able to speak out as soon as possible so that medical examination can be carried out when she encounters a rapist because the rapist might be HIV/AID positive which may secretly want to share or transmit to other people.
Girls should identify and ignore such people who will always make nasty comments while moving on the streets. Avoiding unnecessary touch whether in private and public places will go a long way in curbing the ugly situation. Lonely places should be avoided by ladies.
Certain laws may have been laid down for offenders, but authorities saddled with the responsibility should ensure that those who cannot survive without raping children and women must be punished according to the laws stipulated by government at all levels.
By the time stiffer measures are taken to tackle the menace, women will heave a sigh of relief.
Women groups should rise up in sensitisation on the dangers and consequences of rape.  Creating awareness in schools for pupils and students, market women, officers on how women can defeat the monster called rape has become necessary.

By: Eunice Choko-Kayode