PPRO, SAMUEL JINADU

Domestic violence in Lagos on the rise, women groups say.

Domestic violence against women is on the rise in Lagos, and there is a need to take urgent measures to stop the ugly trend.
This was the position of women rights groups in Lagos State recently over the death of 28-year old Titilayo Arowolo, who was allegedly killed by her husband, Akolade, during a scuffle.
The groups expressed concern over the increasing cases of domestic violence in Lagos State, despite the passage of the Domestic Violence Law in the state in 2007.
Mr Arowolo, who has been arrested and charged to court over the alleged murder of his wife, a banker and mother of one, has maintained that his wife committed suicide.
Women rights groups insist Mr Arowolo's side of the story is untrue, and have called for his prosecution to serve as a deterrent to other men who abuse their wives.
A similar case of domestic violence against women provoked residents of Temidire Ikola, a Lagos suburb, to take the laws into their hands and would have lynched a young man identified as Tao for allegedly killing his wife, Titi. The police's intervention saved Mr Tao from the mob.
Eyewitnesses said Titi, a mother of five, was allegedly killed by her husband, a bricklayer, during a fight in their apartment at Temidire Street, Ipaja, on April 3rd, over a late night phone call Titi received from an unidentified caller.
A similar incident happened in 2010 at Igando, when a 46-year old man, Emmanuel Adua, a father of five, allegedly killed his mistress, Paulina Isewede, 44, over a love message she received on her GSM phone. Mr Adua allegedly pushed Miss Isewede to the floor and allegedly hit her head on a stool.
Josephine Chukwuma, the executive director of Project Alert, a non-profit organisation that campaigns for violence against women, lamented the lackadaisical attitude of the government and residents in stopping domestic violence.
"Domestic violence against women and girls is rampant in Nigeria and it is not limited to poor and deprived women alone, as rich and learned women are being abused by their husbands," said Mrs Chukwuma, who is also the co-ordinator, Gender-Based Violence Response Network, a coalition of women rights groups in Lagos.
Mrs Chukwuma blamed "certain" norms and traditions for domestic violence against women.
"Four structures and institutions have contributed greatly to the incessant cases of violence in the home - the family, the community, religious groups, and the law enforcements. These structures must be redefined and reviewed if they are to meet numerous challenges being experienced by families," she added.
Gloria Egbuji, the executive director of Crime Victims Foundation, in Lagos, said domestic violence will continue unless women rise up for themselves and for government to enlighten the citizens.
"In the same vein, religious institutions and law enforcement agencies often turn the blind eye to issue of violence against women and when such cases are reported, the women are asked to go back to the same abusive home to settle the matter, as it is seen as a family and private affair," she added.
Mrs Egbuji blamed religious organisations who ex-communicate women for divorcing their husbands, even on grounds of violence. She called on the relevant authorities to enlighten the citizenry on the provisions of the domestic violence law.
"It is cheering news that Lagos State through the passage of the domestic violence bill into law in 2007 is ahead of other states in addressing domestic violence. Sadly, most of the states in the country are yet to pass this bill into law.
"However, to get this law to benefit the people, there is the need to enlighten the citizenry to seek cover under the law," Mrs Egbuji said.