GASPRO International Journal of Eminent Scholars

ABSTRACT The study examined institutional and societal response to rape in Nigeria with concentration in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. Three specific objectives and three research questions were raised and three null hypotheses formulated to guide the study. Descriptive survey research design was used for the study. The population of the study comprised of all staff of Nigerian Police Force, Judiciary Staff, Lawyers, Nigerian Prison, NGO Workers, Commercial Sex Workers, Staff of University of Uyo, Students of University of Uyo, Staff of Uyo City Polytechnic and Students of Uyo City Polytechnic. Thesample size of 1200 respondents was used for the study. The sampling technique was stratified random sampling. The researcher developed instrument entitled “Institutional and Societal Response to Rape Questionnaire (ISRRQ)” was used in collecting data for the study. The instrument was given to two research experts for face validation; my supervisor and a lecturer in test and measurement in the Faculty of social science in University of Uyo, Uyo. . Cronbach’s Alpha technique was used in determining the reliability of the instrument and a reliability coefficient of .87 was obtained. Data obtained were analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient and regression analysis. Hypotheses were tested at .05 level of significance. The findings of the study revealed that rape incidence is rampant in Akwa Ibom State. There is significant relationship between advice on legal facilities and victims ability to cope with the incidence. There is significant relationship between basic law enforcement involvement and effective control of rape incidence in Akwa Ibom State. Therefore, it was recommended among others that the primary causes of rape in Uyo should be addressed on the platform of conducting routine seminars, workshop and symposiums. KEY WORDS: Institutional Response, Societal Response, Legal Facilities, Victims, Rape Incidence.