Publication

When a survivor of sexual violence finds the courage to speak, society tells her she has done the right thing. We give her a familiar script:
Report it.

Tell someone.

Seek help.

Trust the system.

20-year-old Favour Agbro reportedly did exactly that.

According to Leadership, the nursing student traveled from Warri to Asaba after responding to a mentorship offer from a popular content creator. She later alleged that she had been sexually assaulted. She reportedly informed her family, sought help, and tried to pursue justice.

Days later, she reportedly died by suicide.

The Delta State Police have since arrested a suspect, and investigations are ongoing. The courts will ultimately determine criminal responsibility. But beyond the question of who may be guilty lies another question that deserves equal attention:

What happens to survivors after they speak?

In recent years, more survivors have found the courage to report sexual violence. Yet many still encounter disbelief, stigma, delayed investigations, and little meaningful support. The gap between encouraging survivors to speak and protecting them after they do remains dangerously wide.

The law promises more than sympathy.

Section 34 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 guarantees the dignity of every person. That guarantee requires more than condemning sexual violence after it occurs. Survivors deserve to be treated with respect, taken seriously, and supported throughout the justice process.

The Delta State Violence Against Persons Law, 2020 provides a legal framework for prosecuting sexual violence and protecting victims. Likewise, Article 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which forms part of Nigerian law through the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, guarantees respect for the dignity of every individual and prohibits degrading treatment.

But laws alone do not deliver justice. Justice also depends on what happens immediately after a survivor reports.

● Was she able to access medical care without delay?

● Was evidence properly preserved?

● Did she receive psychological support?

● Did the police respond promptly?

● Was she protected from intimidation, public shaming, or pressure to withdraw her complaint?

These questions often determine whether a survivor continues with the process or loses confidence in it. This is where secondary victimization begins.

A survivor should not approach the police, a hospital, an advocate or even her family and leave feeling more alone than when she arrived.

The government must therefore do more than announce arrests. Sexual Assault Referral Centers should be properly funded and accessible. Police officers, medical workers and prosecutors must be trained to handle complaints with urgency and sensitivity. Survivors should have access to confidential medical care, counseling, legal assistance and protection from retaliation.

My view is simple: society should not measure its response to sexual violence only by the number of arrests made. It should also measure how well survivors are protected from the moment they find the courage to speak.

Favour’s case deserves a thorough investigation and a fair trial, free from fear, favor or interference. Justice should not depend on the influence of the accused or how loudly a case trends online.

Because when a survivor speaks, seeks help, and still feels abandoned, what exactly are we asking her to trust?