Shame Of Nigeria - Statistics Of Violence Against Women.

25 per cent of women in Nigeria have to go through ordeal of domestic violence. The worst forms of them are battering, trafficking, rape and homicide, report claims.

While domestic violence is a violation of fundamental human rights, which the Nigerian Constitution is against, there are still provisions that make it legal to engage in domestic violence against women.
Every fourth Nigerian woman suffers domestic violence in her lifetime, claims report by a consultant psychiatrist, Dr Maymunah Kadiri.

In her statement to press Ms. Kadiri told that the worst forms of domestic violence are rape and homicide, and that domestic violence is one of the major social issues in Nigeria. Battering and trafficking are other grave forms of abuse experienced by Nigerian girls and women. Battered women suffer physical and mental problems as a result of domestic violence. Kadiri considers domestic violence to have serious destructive social consequences including physical and psychological disorders.

And the poorer the women are the greater for them is the risk of suffering from domestic violence.

“Women with fewer resources or greater perceived vulnerability, girls and those experiencing physical or psychiatric disabilities or living below the poverty line are at greater risk of domestic violence and lifetime abuse” claimed Ms. Kadiri in his report. "Children are also affected by domestic violence even if they do not witness it directly,’’ said in her statement.

Also, despite Nigeria’s constitution vows to eliminate discrimination and violence against women and promotes the idea of freedom, equality and justice, Nigerian womens' rights are often violated with impunity.

“This research provides information about domestic violence in Nigeria and has as its objectives to facilitate the activities of professional counselors such as clergy” said in her statement.

Domestic violence in Nigeria is a problem as in many parts of Africa.There is a deep cultural belief in Nigeria that it is socially acceptable to hit a woman to discipline a spouse. Domestic violence is widespread and shows no signs of lessening in Nigeria.