In a concerning trend, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) continues to escalate in Nigeria, with cases of spousal battery and rape on the rise, despite the existence of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) law. The annual congress of the Ekid People’s Union highlighted the urgency of addressing this human rights violation.
Statistics from the GBV Data Situation Room indicate that 35% of women in Nigeria, roughly one in every three females, experience violence at some point in their lives, predominantly from intimate partners. Between 2020 and 2023, Nigeria recorded 27,698 cases of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, as reported by the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, casting doubt on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for gender equality and non-violence by 2030.
Akwa Ibom State alone witnessed 321 cases from January to November 2023, with spousal battery and rape topping the list at 170 and 120 cases, respectively. The victims often face societal, cultural, and religious pressure to remain silent about their experiences, contributing to the perpetuation of abuse.
Despite the domestication of the VAPP Act in 2020, the state has struggled to secure convictions in suspected cases of spousal battery due to victims withdrawing complaints mid-investigation. Iquo Abia, Chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) in Uyo, emphasized that the challenge lies in the implementation of the law.
While the recent case of a lawyer, Barr Ebong Ekere, caught on video battering his wife sparked public outrage, the victim later sought to withdraw the case, citing forgiveness and family concerns. Such withdrawals during investigations impede the prosecution of spousal battery cases, according to police sources.
Barr Emem Etteh, Director of the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Response Department in Akwa Ibom State, stressed that Ekere’s case has moved beyond just the victim and perpetrator. With overwhelming evidence in the public domain, Etteh asserted that justice must extend to society as well.
Despite challenges, Etteh urged a crackdown on spousal abusers, revealing that at least two women die from spousal violence every two days in Akwa Ibom. She emphasized the importance of holding offenders accountable and cautioned against the detrimental practice of easily forgiving perpetrators, contributing to the escalation of GBV cases.
For a lasting solution, Etteh recommended seeking amicable ways to settle disputes before marriage, promoting mediation services, counseling, and encouraging victims to voice out their experiences without fear of guilt or emotional blackmail. The call for reporting incidents aims to ensure that the law can effectively intervene and protect victims from further harm.
