Lesson one: Statistical Insights on Grooming Cases

Welcome to Lesson 1 of Module 2 of our course, Understanding Sexual Grooming and Cross-Generational Sexual Relationships. In our previous session, we learnt about The Nature of Sexual Grooming, uncovering the Psychological Manipulation Techniques used by predators and Impacts of Sexual Grooming in the Digital Age. Today, we dig into the numbers behind sexual grooming in Nigeria. The statistics reveal a grim reality, but understanding them is the first step toward meaningful change.

Recent reports paint a disturbing picture. Sexualization of children in Nigeria has become commonplace, and since the lockdown and its aftermath, instances of sexual grooming among young people have spiked. One 2014 study, for example, found that 40% of respondents in a sample of adolescents in Southern Nigeria had experienced abuse. In this study, the most common form of abuse wasn’t physical violence but exposure to pornographic images and materials. What makes these findings even more unsettling is that family members and relatives are sometimes the perpetrators, meaning the betrayal comes from within the child’s own circle of trust.

More recent data from a 2019/2020 report by the Mirabel Centre—a Sexual Assault Referral Uni, reveals that a staggering 80% of children who were sexually abused had known their abuser before the incident, although these abusers were often not recognized as such by the children’s parents or guardians. This suggests that grooming is happening quietly, with predators embedding themselves in the daily lives of young people without raising immediate suspicion.

In a comprehensive study titled “Online Sexual Grooming among Female Secondary School Students: A Nigerian Case Study,” researchers gathered data from female students in Oyo State. The study found that between 60% and 80% of these students had encountered online grooming solicitations. Yet, only about 27% had actively participated in these activities, and roughly 30% had engaged in further interactions with perpetrators. These numbers are alarming, especially considering that the digital space, an area where young people spend a significant portion of their time, is rapidly becoming a playing ground for such predatory behaviors. Breaking down the data further, let us analyse these numbers regionally -East, West, South, and North. We know that data isn’t just numbers on a page; it tells real stories about the challenges our communities face.

Let’s start with the West. In states like Oyo (located in the Southwest), recent studies have shown that exposure to online grooming solicitations can be as high as 80% among students, with around 30% actively engaging in risky interactions. This high rate is likely driven by increasing urbanization and widespread internet access, which provides predators with many avenues to exploit vulnerable individuals.

Moving to the East, data from various research projects indicate moderate levels of exposure, around 65%, with active participation hovering near 25-30%. In many Eastern states, while digital connectivity is growing, cultural and educational initiatives have somewhat mitigated the risk. However, the numbers still demand our attention.

In the South—which, in our context, refers to the combination of Southwest and Southeast regions—figures are similarly alarming. Here, grooming exposure rates reach approximately 75%, with active involvement around 35%. The blend of high internet usage and less stringent supervision in some areas contributes to these trends, underscoring the need for robust digital safety education.

The North, though traditionally characterized by more conservative societal norms and gradually increasing internet access, still reports exposure rates around 50%, with lower active participation (about 20-25%). Yet, even these lower numbers are a serious concern, as they indicate that predators are adapting and finding ways to breach even more guarded communities.

Imagine interactive graphs that visually compare these figures—a dynamic bar chart showing the percentages of exposure and participation by region. Such visual tools not only make the data more accessible but also drive home the regional disparities that call for targeted interventions.

Understanding these trends is crucial. Each region has its own set of challenges, and our goal is to use this data to drive region-specific advocacy, education, and policy change that protect our communities. This detailed breakdown helps us see where the vulnerabilities lie, and it sets the stage for developing effective, localized strategies.