Reported Rape Cases in Northwest Senatorial District, Jigawa State, Nigeria, 2016–2025: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of Administrative Records and Security Personnel Perspectives

Abstract

Background: Rape is a serious social, legal and public-health problem, but administrative records capture only incidents that reach formal institutions. Local evidence from the Northwest Senatorial District of Jigawa State, Nigeria, is limited, particularly evidence that combines long-term security-agency records with stakeholder perspectives. Aim: This study examined reported rape cases recorded by security agencies in the district from 2016 to 2025. It also explored stakeholders’ views on contributing circumstances, reporting barriers, consequences, institutional challenges and possible responses. Methods: A mixed-methods design was used. The first component was a retrospective descriptive review of administrative records from the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), 2016–2025. The second was a qualitative field survey using open-ended questionnaires. These were distributed by stratified sampling to community members in six local government areas and to staff of three general hospitals (sample size of 400 from a population of 885,741, calculated with Taro Yamane’s formula). The 386 responses analysed were coded manually and organised into themes. Administrative data were analysed descriptively. Results: The agencies recorded 1,894 cases: 1,630 by the Police and 264 by the NSCDC. Annual Police records ranged from 90 cases (2021) to 225 (2020). The Police recorded 1,197 cases as charged to court and 1,110 as convictions. The NSCDC recorded 235 cases as prosecuted and 29 as dismissed. Victims aged 6–15 years were the largest group (48.1%), and perpetrators aged 30 years or below were the largest perpetrator group (41.3%). Respondents identified poverty, parental negligence, peer influence, substance abuse, illiteracy, insecurity and hostility towards women and girls as perceived contributing circumstances. Stigma, fear of retaliation, victim blaming, low confidence in the justice system and prolonged legal processes were identified as barriers to reporting. They also described psychological, physical, reproductive and social consequences. Implications: The records show a persistent documented burden, with children and adolescents most affected. They are not prevalence estimates, and annual changes may reflect reporting and recording rather than true incidence. The findings support a coordinated response by security agencies, health services, the justice system, communities and survivor-support services. This should include survivor-centred training and referral pathways, public sensitisation against stigma and victim blaming, and stronger child protection.