[3][4] Cases of Domestic violence are on the high and show no signs of reduction in Nigeria, regardless of age, tribe, religion, or even social status.
Common forms of violence against women in Nigeria are rape, acid attacks, molestation, wife beating, and corporal punishment.
Incidents of domestic violence in Nigeria include battery, beatings, torture, acid baths, rape, and consequently, death.
The menace is eating deep as most of the victims do not speak out about violations of their rights, a result of nonchalance, insensitivity, and negative response from their immediate family and society at large.
[5] On the 27th of February, 2021, The Guardian, Nigeria, recorded in their Saturday edition that cases of Domestic Violence are on a high rate, especially the physical aspect of it.
[13] Some possible reasons given for this assaults include drunk state of spouses, financial issues resulting in cases of possible frustration, and the rejection of sexual advances from the partner.
Sexual violence in Nigeria largely goes unreported because of the burden of proof necessary for conviction as well as the social stigma it brings.
[18] Furthermore, the 2008 Demographic and Health Survey showed that over 30.5% of married women have experienced at least one or more forms of physical, emotional or sexual violence in their marriage.
[20] The common loss of women's rights upon marriage in Sub-Saharan Africa and the implicit obedience and deference towards men is socially encouraged within their society.
[22] Other factors linked with domestic violence are lower socioeconomic classes, substance abuse, couple age disparity, and unemployment.
When looking at a study taken by infertile woman visiting a fertility clinic, many women reported some form of domestic violence- whether physical, mental, or emotional.
For example, the Tiv view wife beating as a “sign of love” is widely encouraged considering the statement, "If you are not yet beaten by your husband then you do not know the joy of marriage and that means you are not yet married".
[20] All the major ethnic groups in Nigeria- Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa- have strong patriarchial societal structures that lead to the justification of domestic violence.
There are higher numbers for instances like neglecting the children or going out without telling the husband and less for refusal of sex or a mere argument.
[29] A study in the nation's capital, Abuja, carried out over a course of 3 months in 2005 showed physical, sexual, and psychological abuse among pregnant women.
Overall, the trends of domestic violence against pregnant women permeate across different ethnic groups and Nigerian states.
[31] Women reported verbal abuse, threat of physical violence, and sexual deprivation once they disclosed her HIV positive status.
The provision of the Penal Code applicable in the Northern part of Nigeria specifically encourages violence against women.
[28] Amnesty International criticized Nigeria's judicial system due to its conviction rate of 10 percent of rape prosecutions.
[28] In an attempt to battle the issue of police discretion and inactivity, Lagos (Largest city in Nigeria), held a two-day sensitization workshop on Domestic Violence law as it applies in the state.
[36] In May 2013, Nigeria's National Assembly passed a bill to reduce gender-based violence, which is awaiting Senate approval before it becomes law.
They also organize training programs for female lawyers to defend women's rights in domestic violence in court.
[43] The earnings of most Nigerians, especially those working in the informal sector, plummeted due to the enforcement of the strict lockdown measure.
[44] The financial difficulty associated with the lockdown was reported to trigger stress, frustration, and as a result, negative coping mechanisms such as substance abuse were adopted by the men.
[45] "This Financial distress was found to have resulted in the occurrence of spousal abuse in major cities in Nigeria such as Lagos, which was the epicenter of the pandemic; and Abuja, the federal capital"[44] This increase in Domestic Violence was not just recorded in Nigeria, It was equally experienced in the United States, China, and some European countries.