The shocking news of the death of popular Nigerian gospel singer, 42-year-old Osinachi Nwachukwu, on April 8 sparked visceral reactions from all segments of society following reports from her close associates and family members that she had been a victim of prolonged intimate partner violence. That the late gospel singer reportedly refused to divorce her abusive husband, Peter Nwachukwu, is a reflection of the experiences of many women in Nigeria in similar situations.
Although there are male victims of intimate partner violence, the incidence is far lower when compared with that of women. Violence against women is an issue of global concern because it has implications for the victims, their families and society at large. Estimates indicate that after Southern Asia, sub-Saharan Africa has the next highest rate of lifetime intimate partner violence for women aged 15-49 years (WHO, 2021). Available statistics have shown that one in four women aged 15- 49 years in Nigeria have been victims of intimate partner violence (Benebo, Schumann, Vaezghasmi, 2018) however, due to the difficulties of collecting reliable data, analysis of trends over time is not feasible.
Intimate partner violence is behavior by a current or former intimate partner that causes physical, sexual or psychological harm and which includes physical aggression, sexual coercion, psychological abuse and controlling behaviours (WHO, 2021). It is often reinforced by societal gender inequalities. Sadly, its multidimensional effects on victims include but are not limited to injury, anxiety, panic disorders, post-traumatic stress, depression, lowered self-esteem, reproductive health complications, sexually transmitted infections, poor academic or job performance, homelessness and death, to mention a few. Despite causing physical, sexual, emotional, and psychological harm, many women remain in abusive relationships for a variety of reasons.
The societal stigmatization that comes with separation or divorce in conservative Nigerian society is a major reason why victims endure intimate partner violence. Women who chose to leave their marriages are often labeled as sexually immoral, socially deviant, poorly socialized, and as “single parents” or divorcees. Not only are they stigmatized, some are even ostracized. Hence, many victims would rather choose to remain in abusive marriages in order to maintain the veneer of respectability conferred by marriage, rather than having to live with the shame of societal stigmatization. Children in the marriage are another consideration that influences the decision of victims of intimate-partner violence to remain in such marriages. Many women have been socialized to prefer to “sacrifice” their well-being rather than have their children become offspring of so-called broken homes. So they stay in abusive marriages to spare their children the emotional, social and psychological effects of a broken marriage.
Ignorance about the existence of anti-gender based violence legislations and means of seeking redress is another factor. Additionally, some victims perceive intimate partner violence as a private issue, and for some women, it is a challenge that will pass away with time; because they live with the mindset that there are no perfect marriages. As such they have optimism that there will be a positive change in the attitude of the perpetrator of violence.
Fear is a major factor responsible for women remaining in abusive marriages. The fear of what the abuser would do to the victim is one of such fears. There is also the feelings of anxiety and uncertainty of what the future holds. Additionally, physical violence is very often accompanied by psychological manipulation and emotional abuse. Over time, the victims believe the derogatory statements and threats meted to them by the perpetrators. In fact, many women self-blame and consider themselves as deserving of the maltreatment they get.
Economic dependency of the victims on their abusers is another factor. Due to the absence of an alternative means of livelihood and economic support, victims of intimate partner violence will likely remain in an abusive marriage. It has however been increasingly observed that many women in Nigeria that are financially independent or are even the breadwinners of their families also experience abuse and stay in those marriages for some of the reasons already identified. In the case of Osinachi, reports have it that honorarium from her singing career were paid into the account of her husband who also doubled up as her manager, making her dependent on him economically, even though she was the one working for the money. Some women would even have fled from their abusers but for the lack of the economic means of getting safe and conducive accommodation afterwards.
The influence of religious teachings that frown at divorce whilst upholding marriage as a life-long commitment which should only be terminated by death is another reason why women stay in abusive marriages. In addition to this are cultural beliefs that a woman’s place is to live with her husband in both good and bad times. In the Nigerian society, the prevalent belief is that a married woman should stay in her husband’s house, endure whatever marriage offers her and never return to her parents’ house. At times, the felt need by the victim to uphold family dignity makes them to remain in abusive marriages. Some parents won’t even permit their children to leave their abusive spouses. Therefore, so as not to be considered as being deviant to these religious and cultural beliefs, victims continue to endure abuse.
Possible paths out of the epidemic
Asides being globally designated a violation of human rights and a denial of women’s dignity and self-worth; discourses on the need to tackle intimate partner violence are on the increase as a result of the influence of social media in bringing greater awareness of the phenomenon. Most of the remedies to the pandemic are not new; they however need to be pursued with more vigour for greater impact.
It is therefore very important for everyone – government, NGOs, other formal and social institutions and individuals to commit towards increasing public enlightenment on the criminal nature of violence as well as the need for victims to speak up, in order to get help.
Anti-gender based violence legislations such as Nigeria’s Violence against Persons Prohibition Act 2015 should be passed in states that are yet to pass it into law and adequate mechanisms for its implementation and enforcement should be put in place.
NGOs that advocate for women’s rights in Nigeria should continue to work with governments at all levels to sensitize women about the existence of anti-gender based legislations where they exist, and the means of seeking redress using them. (Okedele & Yacob-Haliso, 2017).
To get assistance easily, help lines should be put in place by government and public awareness on their availability should be embarked upon. Adequate financial resources should also be committed by government in Nigeria to services such as adequate shelter or safe homes for fleeing victims of violence. This is because the few safe homes in Nigeria are owned by NGOs and anti-gender based violence advocates (Adekoya, 2020; Alabi, 2021, The Nation, 2021) and not many people are aware of their locations and existence.
Lastly, there is a need for mindset shift in religious and cultural spaces; people need to be sensitized to stop encouraging victims of abuse to endure it and the stigmatization of divorcees and separated partners in society should stop.
- Dr. Okedele is a senior lecturer at the Tai Solarin College of Education, Ogun State.