A few months ago, social media was buzzing with a troubling video. It featured a 25-year-old lady engaged in a fierce altercation with her father over his plans to remarry after the death of her mother many years ago.

Her distress was not merely about her father’s intention to remarry; it was rooted in the fact that her father, who she considered the love of her life, had taken her virginity and initiated a sexual relationship with her at the tender age of 17. Since then, she had only known intimacy with her own father. The heartbroken lady vehemently opposed her father’s plan to remarry, declaring that they would live as husband and wife, raise children, and swore that he would never marry another.

This shocking incident was followed by yet another viral video. This one featured a woman admitting to engaging in an incestuous relationship with her son and expressing a desire to end this abhorrent act.

Mrs. Nweze revealed that her son, Obinna, had coerced her into this unthinkable liaison. He falsely claimed that his success in a particular business venture was contingent on him either being intimate with his mother or facing death. Torn by love for her son, Mrs. Nweze succumbed to his demands. This despicable affair eventually led to the collapse of her marriage, leaving her estranged from her husband and alienated from her other sons.

The shocking case of Matina Agawua, who resorted to seducing her own son to conceive a child for her second husband, still lingers in memory. Matina, having lost her first husband to a tragic attack, faced pressure to bear a child for her new husband after years of unsuccessful attempts. To address this, she engaged in a sexual relationship with her own son from her previous marriage.

The prevalence of incestuous relationships such as these has become a growing concern in Nigeria. Instances of daughters bearing children for their fathers and mothers conceiving with their sons have become distressingly common.

In 2023, a man in the Ikwa community, Zuba Chiefdom, was apprehended for impregnating his own daughters. One of the daughters disclosed the harrowing truth to her fiancé, a police officer, leading to the father’s arrest. Similarly, the Ogun State Police Command arrested a man for impregnating his 19-year-old daughter earlier this year, following a complaint lodged by the victim.

Though universally condemned, such taboo unions persist and are on the rise. The practice has led to daughters bearing their fathers’ children in secrecy while some have resorted to terminating pregnancies resulting from incestuous relationships.

Attempting to shed light on this deplorable trend, Dr. Leonard Okonkwo, a Consultant Psychologist at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, delved into the psychological underpinnings of incestuous behaviour. He emphasised the fundamental notion that while sex is a biological impulse, societal norms play a critical role in regulating sexual conduct.

Dr. Okonkwo, drawing from psychoanalytic theory, outlined the significance of the early bond between a father and his daughter, highlighting the potential repercussions if this bond is mishandled. He explained how this complex relationship may pave the way for inappropriate romantic feelings to develop.

Furthermore, Dr. Okonkwo attributed the escalating cases of incest to the shift from communal living to more individualistic lifestyles, allowing perpetrators to carry out their heinous acts without detection.

He stressed the vital role of societal norms in shaping individual behaviour, underscoring the erosion of cultural values and the consequent rise in individual autonomy as contributing factors to the surge in incestuous behaviour.

The distressing surge in incestuous relationships calls for urgent intervention and a collective effort to restore the sanctity of the family unit. As Dr. Okonkwo’s insights reveal, it is imperative to address both the psychological triggers and societal factors fueling this alarming trend.

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Devastating Effects of Incest and Society’s Moral Decay in Nigeria

Dr. Okonkwo, a renowned psychiatrist, has expressed deep concern over the alarming rise of incest in Nigeria. He warned that as societal norms erode and people lead more individualistic lives, the prevalence of this abhorrent practice continues to grow unchecked.

In an exclusive interview, Dr. Okonkwo highlighted the inherent danger of living in a society where law enforcement struggles to monitor and prevent such immoral acts. He lamented, “People live on their own without any check and that gives them the opportunity to commit incest without let or hindrance.”

Furthermore, Dr. Okonkwo pointed out that the proliferation of Western culture and the promotion of fantasy play a pivotal role in desensitizing individuals to the seriousness of incestuous relationships. He elaborated, “The erosion of societal norms coupled with the widespread encouragement of fantasy, especially through popular media, has contributed to creating a distorted perception that incest is permissible.”

One striking observation made by Dr. Okonkwo is the alarming normalisation of incestuous relationships in pornography, which perpetuates the misconception that such acts are enjoyable and worth experimenting.

Interestingly, Dr. Okonkwo also shed light on the paradoxical behaviour of offenders who, despite being influenced by fantasy, feel the need to conceal their actions. He explained, “While fantasy may mislead them into believing that their actions are acceptable, their conscience still recognises the wrongfulness of their deeds, compounded by the fact that it is a criminal offence punishable by law.”

Addressing the contentious issue of sexual freedom, Dr. Okonkwo emphasized the detrimental impact of certain groups championing the freedom to engage in taboo practices such as incest and homosexuality. He questioned the rationale behind the boldness of individuals openly advocating for rights to engage in such behaviours, stressing the urgent need for moral and legal deterrents.

Notably, Dr. Okonkwo acknowledged that while homosexuality has historically been condemned, concerted efforts by advocacy groups have remarkably influenced its reclassification and acceptance, raising concerns about the potential advocacy for the normalisation of incest in the future.

Regarding the distressing trend of daughters willingly engaging in incestuous relationships with their fathers, Dr. Okonkwo emphasised the critical perspective of attachment and psychosexual development in their formative years, highlighting the risk of psychological fixation leading to enduring patterns of exploitation.

As the interview drew to a close, Dr. Okonkwo addressed the critical question of whether incestuous behaviour is indicative of mental illness. He unequivocally stressed the abnormality of such conduct and the urgent need for intervention, asserting that persistent aberrant behaviour signifies an underlying mental health issue that necessitates professional help.

In summation, Dr. Okonkwo’s insights serve as a sobering reminder of the profound societal implications of incest and the imperative need for comprehensive interventions to address the erosion of moral values and safeguard vulnerable individuals from the devastating consequences of this abhorrent practice.

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