Women in Oyo communities suffer high level of abuse, rape – Report

Report by the Global Affairs Canada Landscape Analysis on sexual and gender-based violence submitted to the Oyo State government has revealed that women in rural areas in the state, especially in Iseyin and Ogbomoso communities, suffer high rate of rape, abuse, and assault.

The project coordinator, Dr Adebimpe Adenugba, and the Gender Reproductive Health Analyst of UNFPA, Dr Esther Somefun, who led the team of researchers, said drugs and alcohol consumption contribute to gender-based violence in rural and rural-urban communities of the state.

The researchers said the findings were part of a preliminary report submitted to the Oyo State Ministry of Health at the Exit/Validation meeting with stakeholders on Global Affairs Canada Landscape Analysis on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, Harmful Traditional Practices and Obstetrics Fistula in the state.

Funded by Global Affairs Canada, the research was executed by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Sokoto, Bauchi and Oyo states.

The non-governmental organisation said the research was carried out in 11 out of the 33 local government areas which are; Saki East, Itesiwaju, Iseyin, Surulere and Iwajowa, Afijio, Ibadan North, Ibadan South West, Oluyole, Egbeda and Ibadan North East.