Intimate physical violence against Nigerian women should be re-legislated now

Favour Obi

Few news media companies have accentuated the conversation around the need to end Intimate Physical Violence in Nigeria as Daily Trust has done following the demise of the popular musician, Osinachi Nwachukwu who was allegedly murdered by her husband in a protracted case of constant domestic violence that she was mute about. 

Femicidal cases are on the rise in Nigeria across board without proper political and judicial responses, unfortunately. Between 360 to 400 women are killed in Nigeria annually by their husbands or boyfriends. It is an outrageous figure that should attract an instantaneous legislative response or perhaps, an Executive Order from Nigeria’s president. Women shouldn’t be treated with such recklessness in the 21st century.

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Following the demise of Osinachi Nwachukwu the music artiste, many commentators are again looking meticulously at the causes of Intimate Physical Violence against women in Nigeria which underscore cultural perceptions such as gender stereotypes and prejudice; normative expectations of femininity and masculinity, the socialization of gender, religious exclusivity, feminine poverty, an understanding of the family sphere as private and under male authority; and a general acceptance of violence as part of the public sphere. 

A major challenge of democracy and good governance is to build a society where the weak is protected from the strong; where the poor is protected from the rich; where a system of equity and justice is institutionalized; where the rights of everyone to life is sacrosanct and irrefutably absolute. 

Alas, there is no denying the fact that there are huge disparities between the developing countries and the West, where domestic violence is highly minimal; where the penalties for intimate partner violence (IPV) are stringent enough to instigate conspicuous culture transformation. Physical abuse and violence threaten the international humanitarian right to life in Nigeria today more than ever before.

Incidents of Intimate physical violence in Nigeria— which include battery, beatings, torture, acid baths, rape, verbal abuse, corporal punishment, emotional torture, starvation, denial of access to shelter, food, salary or finance and consequently, death—threaten the weak, the poor, and the rights of women and children to life. 

It is sadly estimated that approximately one in every three Nigerian women suffers domestic violence and Intimate Partner Violence from the hands of those who claim to love and supposedly, protect them, which goes without proper response to nip the horrible norm in the bud. 

For instance, the parade of Peter Nwachukwu the husband of the deceased Osinachi Nwachukwu by the Nigerian police without looking critically at the connection between her throat cancer (proven through medical test ) and the domestic violence she allegedly faced under her husband was as aggravating as it was unjustifiable.

The case should involve experts that would explain to the public what transpired and the implications of enduring domestic violence, torture and abuse. It could lead to cancer and other inflammatory diseases for men and women. 

It is also brazen to note that Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP), passed in 2015 provides protection for a wide range of types of violence against women, including domestic violence but has failed to minimize it due to the absence of legislative review and implementation. 

The penology that surrounds the legislation makes it impossible to serve as a deterrent to the avalanche of spousal abusers in our society. Section 3 (2) of the law provides that: ‘A person who attempts to commit an act of violence provided in subsection 1 of this section commits an offence and he is liable on conviction to a minimum of one year imprisonment and to a fine not less than 100,000 or both.’

This kind of penal code doesn’t really do the needed justice given that domestic violence when looked at critically could contribute to manslaughter, suicide, mortal ailments, life-threatening injuries, murder, death, and several other provable mortal outcomes. Many men and women suffer domestic violence across Nigeria and world over leading to several ugly consequences. 

How an allegedly ’God-fearing’ society still wallows in intimate physical violence makes me wonder. Where is our fear of God? Is it for fancy? You can’t physically abuse your spouse and still claim you fear God because physical abuse can cause many chronic (long-lasting) health problems, including heart problems, high blood pressure, throat injuries due to constant cries, depression, and digestive problems.

Women who are abused are also more likely to develop depression, anxiety, or eating disorders or other chronic inflammatory diseases such as cancer, leading to other devastating diseases.

Women who are abused may also misuse alcohol or drugs as a way to cope. Some may engage in extramarital sex to survive. Unfortunately, the victims find it difficult to talk or escape because of the state of their health as the case of Osinachi Nwachukwu exemplified. The religiosity of the victims also play a huge part.

The suspect should serve as an important case to end IPV in Nigeria our beloved country.

I recommend a new legislation that mandates the state governors to provide shelter, finance and specialist care, therapy and monitoring programmes for victims of Intimate Physical Violence in Nigeria; a law that increases the sentences to 10 years and above with fines of between N1,000,000 and N5,000,000 so as to make it hard for physical abusers in Nigeria. 

A society that grooms and neglects physically abused women is at risk of implosion at the family level. Other states including the FCT should encourage victims of Intimate Physical Violence to seek legal assistance immediately by following the Lagos State Government to set up a specific agency that protects the domestic violence victims, such as the Lagos State Domestic Sexual and Violence Response Team.

Favour wrote from London