Domestic violence refers to all types of physical, mental, economic, and violence within a relationship.
The definition of “killing a woman or a girl” in the Oxford Dictionary is called Femicide. Unfortunately, recently, femicide has become an excessive terminology used when describing acts of violence that culminated in death against women in Nigeria.
One of the major problems in today’s Nigeria is the accuracy of statistical data available to researchers on various issues, this includes documentation of violence done to women.
We shall, however, rely on a recent study provided by the ministry of women’s affairs and social development in conjunction with the United Nations Population Fund [UNPFA] to highlight reports on gender-based violence.
This study sponsored by the Norwegian Government indicated that about 28% of women between the ages of 25 and 29 have experienced some form of physical violence since turning 15.
Several cases of domestic violence have been reported recently in Nigeria. The case of Mrs Ronke Shonde and Gospel singer Osinachi readily comes to mind.
“Osinachi Nwachukwu a Gospel singer and mother of four, was kicked in the chest by her husband
Mr Peter Nwachuku.
According to the older sister, the cause of death resulted from the kicking received from her husband, causing a cluster of blood in the chest. .”
“Ronke was a banker and mother of two who was beaten to death by her husband, Mr Lekan Shonde. It was alleged, according to neighbours, that Mr Shonde was in the habit of tying his late wife and beating her up. This is the case with thousands of other women most of who are suffering silently.“
This study also states that 15% of women experienced physical violence within 12 months before the survey.
Further reports based on marital status showed that “44% of divorced, separated or widowed women experienced violence since the age 15, while 25% of married women or those living with their spouses have also experienced violence. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Homicide:
72% of all murder suicides involved an intimate partner. of these, 94% were females killed by their intimate partners.
Frequently, we read so much about violence against women in our Newspapers that it has become almost ‘normal’ to us.
Among the commonest forms of violence are harassment, physical violence, retrogressive traditional practices, emotional and psychological violence, socio-economic violence, and violence against non-combatant women in a conflict situation.
Question: What can be done to stop this horrible slaughtering of women? Women simply ask for freedom and autonomy but are slaughtered by men in the process, men unable to let them go or unable to let them be their true selves.
