In Nigeria, male survivors of sexual violence can’t speak out

BY MONISOLA ABOSEDE

In January 2025, Lagos hotelier Opara Macdonald was paraded by the Zone 2 Police Command for allegedly sexually assaulting a 16-year-old boy. According to the police, Macdonald lured the minor—who had come to his hotel to record TikTok videos—to his residence, where he was “forcefully subjected to unlawful sexual acts”. Macdonald offered the minor ₦5,000 and a bottle of energy drink after the incident, per official report.

“I swear in my life that all I had with him was sex,” Macdonald told television station TVC in a jarring confession.

The Police PRO at Zone 2 revealed that the accused had manipulated it in connivance with a police officer at Isheri-Oshun Station, where the boy first reported the crime.

This incident underscores a grim reality: male survivors of sexual violence in Nigeria battle not only trauma but a society and justice system that dismiss their pain.

Sexual violence is often framed as a crime against women—and rightly so. A 2018 Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey found that 9% of women aged 15–49 experience sexual violence. However, men are not exempt.

The US Bureau of Justice’s statistics in 1999, disclosed that while 91% of rape survivors are female, 9% are male. The report also made clear that nearly all perpetrators are men.

While Nigeria lacks comparable data, underreporting is rampant. Male rape cases barely surface for various reasons, including fear of being ridiculed, blamed, or labeled “unmanly.” And in cases where they are reported, as in the 16-year-old’s case, their stories still find a way to drown in silence.

“Patriarchy is one of the reasons that would cause a man to remain silent whilst being abused,” says Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, Executive Secretary of Lagos State’s Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), in an interview from 2024.

In a society that equates masculinity with strength, dominance, and emotional detachment (qualities framed as male superiority), sexual violence against men is routinely dismissed as implausible or minimized. Sexual violence against men thrives on these stereotypes, and predators like Macdonald continue to exploit them.

After the assault, he threatened the boy, warning him that speaking out would make him lose his sanity. Survivors navigate not just trauma but a culture that minimizes their pain.

The effects and trauma from sexual violence on a victim, irrespective of gender, are universal. Depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and social isolation haunt survivors. For men, these wounds fester in silence. It is compounded by a culture that conflates vulnerability with failure.

But cracks are forming in the silence, according to Vivour-Adeniyi. Lagos State is countering these concerns head-on with initiatives that empower men to speak up. They include The Hidden Crime, Violence Against Men, Men Wey Sabi, and the Kings Club Initiative.

“Our advocacy… seeks to promote positive masculinity amongst young boys,” Vivour-Adeniyi explains. The Kings Club, for instance, partners with schools to teach boys that strength includes seeking support.

Nigeria must confront its contradictions: a society that praises men for being strong but turns its back on them when they suffer. The 16-year-old boy’s ordeal must ignite more than outrage; it must spur action. Survivors shouldn’t have to whisper their pain. They deserve to speak boldly and be backed by society.

We would like to speak with men and young boys who have experienced sexual violence, whether by peers or individuals in positions of power. Your voice and story can help shed light on this important issue. Please fill the Google form HERE to share your experience.