11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Lagos State: AI estimated that two-thirds of the women in certain communities experienced violence in the family ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 19927]

"AI estimated that two-thirds of the women in certain communities in Lagos State experienced physical, sexual, or psychological violence in the family, with husbands, partners, and fathers responsible for most of the violence. Discriminatory laws exacerbated the problem. For example, the penalty for sexual assault of a man is more severe than the penalty for the same offense against a woman."

Document(s): Open document

11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Domestic violence is still common in 2007 ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 23736]

"Domestic violence was widespread and often considered socially acceptable. Reports of spousal abuse were common, especially wife beating. Police normally did not intervene in domestic disputes, which seldom were discussed publicly. The law permits husbands to use physical means to chastise their wives as long as it does not result in "grievous harm," which is defined as loss of sight, hearing, power of speech, facial disfigurement, or life-threatening injuries. In more rural areas, courts and police were reluctant to intervene to protect women who formally accused their husbands of abuse if the level of alleged abuse did not exceed customary norms in the areas. According to the 2003 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), 64.5 percent of women and 61.3 percent of men agreed that a husband was justified in hitting or beating his wife for at least one of six specified reasons, including burning food and not cooking on time."

Document(s): Open document

10.08.2007 - Source: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada

Query response on domestic violence; recourse and protection available to victims of domestic violence ("Domestic violence; recourse and protection available to victims of domestic violence (2005 - 2007) [NGA102510.E]") [ID 22099]

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Police normally did not intervene in domestic violence; the law permits husbands to chastise their wives physically ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19926]

"Domestic violence was widespread and often considered socially acceptable. Reports of spousal abuse were common, especially those of wife beating. Police normally did not intervene in domestic disputes, which seldom were discussed publicly. The law permits husbands to use physical means to chastise their wives as long as it does not result in "grievous harm," which is defined as loss of sight, hearing, power of speech, facial disfigurement, or life-threatening injuries. In more rural areas, courts and police were reluctant to intervene to protect women who formally accused their husbands of abuse if the level of alleged abuse did not exceed customary norms in the areas. According to the 2003 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), 64.5 percent of women and 61.3 percent of men agreed that a husband was justified in hitting or beating his wife for at least one of six specified reasons, including burning food and not cooking on time."

Document(s): Open document

09.2006 - Source: Freedom House

Many women suffer abuse in the family ("Freedom in the World 2006") [ID 18272]

"Amnesty International said in May 2005 that Nigerian women often suffer abuse in the family: "In most cases, the criminal justice system fails to offer protection, justice, or redress to women who have been subjected to violence in the home." The National Assembly in 2005 was considering a bill providing penalties for violence against women."

Document(s): Open document

08.2006 - Source: Norwegian Country of Origin Information Center

Police tend to send women with abusive husbands back to the family; often women do not want to file charges as they are financially dependent and thus find leaving their husbands impossible ("Report on Fact-finding trip to Nigeria (Abuja, Lagos and Benin City) 12-26 March 2006") [ID 18807]

"Bukhari Bello (NHRC) stated that domestic violence against women is one of the commission’s biggest caseloads. In his opinion, the main problem is that the police tend to send women with abusive husbands (or other family members) back to the family for them to sort out the issues within the family circle. Therefore, the commission tries to improve awareness of the issue among police officers. On the other hand, police officers regularly inform the commission that in the cases where they actually do detain abusive husbands or investigate such cases, the women often ask them to stop the legal proceedings, as they are not financially independent and thus not in a position where they perceive leaving their abusive husbands as a possible option.Modupe Omopintemi (the European Commission) stated that an abused woman’s family may intervene on her behalf, even beat up a violent husband, and that the church could also be of assistance. The police, on the other hand, will often dismiss such cases as matters to be dealt with within the family."

Document(s): Open document

07.2006 - Source: Freedom House

One third of women beaten by their husbands ("Countries at the Crossroads 2006") [ID 18309]

"At home, however, women face regular brutality; the New York Times reported that one-third of Nigerian women surveyed had responded that they have been beaten by their husbands."

Document(s): Open document

23.05.2006 - Source: Amnesty International

Domestic violence still widespread ("Annual Report 2006") [ID 17509]

"Violence against women, including in the family, was still widespread. Although some states introduced legislation on violence in the home, the federal government did not review discriminatory laws or amend national law to comply with the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa."

Document(s): Open document

23.05.2006 - Source: Amnesty International

First state-level laws on domestic violence were passed in Ebonyi State and Cross River State; draft law in Lagos state makes slow progress ("Annual Report 2006") [ID 17602]

"The first state-level laws on domestic violence were passed by state legislators in Ebonyi State and Cross River State. In Lagos State, a draft domestic violence law made slow progress, despite pressure from human rights organizations."

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Domestic violence widespread; police normally does not intervene in domestic disputes ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46036],  [ID 17410]

"Domestic violence was widespread and often considered socially acceptable. Reports of spousal abuse were common, especially those of wife beating. Police normally did not intervene in domestic disputes, which seldom were discussed publicly. The Penal Code permits husbands to use physical means to chastise their wives as long as it does not result in "grievous harm," which is defined as loss of sight, hearing, power of speech, facial disfigurement, or life-threatening injuries. In more traditional areas of the country, courts and police were reluctant to intervene to protect women who formally accused their husbands of abuse if the level of alleged abuse did not exceed customary norms in the areas. According to the 2003 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), 64.5 percent of women and 61.3 percent of men agreed that a husband was justified in hitting or beating his wife for at least one of six specified reasons, including burning food and not cooking on time."

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

An estimated two-thirds of women in certain communities experienced violence within the family ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46036],  [ID 17411]

"AI reported that an estimated two-thirds of the women in certain communities in Lagos State experienced physical, sexual, or psychological violence in the family, with husbands, partners, and fathers responsible for most of the violence. Discriminatory laws exacerbated the problem. For example the penalty for indecent assault on a man is more severe than the penalty for the same offense against a woman."

Document(s): Open document

10.2005 - Source: UK Home Office

Women and girls in Nigeria are subjected to violence by some members of their families and within their communities ("Country Report - October 2005") [#39647],  [ID 15200]

"“Countless women and girls in Nigeria are subjected to violence by some members of their families and within their communities, as in many countries throughout the world. Women of all ages and from all socio-economic groups, living in rural and urban communities, are affected. The lack of official statistics makes assessing the extent of the violence an almost impossible task, but studies suggest levels of violence are shockingly high. More than a third and in some groups nearly two-thirds of women in Nigeria are believed to have experienced physical, sexual or psychological violence in the family.”

“Violence against women and in the home is generally regarded as belonging in the private sphere and is shielded from outside scrutiny. A culture of silence reinforces the stigma that attaches to the victim rather than the perpetrator of such crimes.”
“Violence against women in the home is widely regarded in Nigeria as a fact of married life that must be tolerated. In the only known official survey of public opinion on violence against women in the home, the proportion of women and men who justified wife-beating was found to be highest in the north-central zone of Nigeria, and lowest in the south-west zone, which includes Lagos State. The proportion was also found to be higher in rural areas than in towns.”

“The crimes of rape and other forms of violence in the home are seriously under-reported, and the perpetrators are rarely brought to justice. The stigma attached to the victims of sexual violence, rather than to their attackers, deters most women from reporting such crimes.”

“….Women remain silent about other forms of violence in the home for a range of reasons. They feel there is no point in taking complaints to the police because they will not be taken seriously. Women in a long-term cohabitation or marriage may endure physical abuse in silence for fear of breaking up the relationship and facing financial insecurity.”

“….Women are frequently unaware of their human rights or that violence against women in the family may constitute a human rights violation by the authorities. Women’s lack of awareness of available legal remedies may also contribute to the under-reporting of domestic violence. They may fear violent reprisals if they attempt to bring an abusive partner to justice.”

“Relatives may put women under pressure not to disturb the family peace or bring shame on the family. One woman, who had lost some teeth and suffered other injuries in the latest serious assault by her husband, was urged by her brother to resolve her marital problems on her own.”"

Document(s): Open document

10.2005 - Source: UK Home Office

Domestic violence is very common in Nigeria ("Country Report - October 2005") [#39647],  [ID 15201]

"The USSD 2004 Report states that:

“Domestic violence was widespread and accepted by both men and women. Reports of spousal abuse particularly wife beating were common. Police normally did not intervene in domestic disputes, which seldom were discussed publicly. The Penal Code permits husbands to use physical means to chastise their wives as long as it does not result in ‘grievous harm,’ which is defined as loss of sight, hearing, power of speech, facial disfigurement, or life-threatening injuries. In more traditional areas of the country, courts and police were reluctant to intervene to protect women who formally accused their husbands if the level of alleged abuse did not exceed customary norms in the areas. According to the 2003 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), 64.5 percent of women and 61.3 percent of men agree that a husband was justified in hitting or beating his wife for at least one of six specified reasons, including burning food and not cooking on time.”"

Document(s): Open document

28.02.2005 - Source: US Department of State

Violence against women permitted as long as it does not end in "grievous harm'" ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2004") [#29466],  [ID 15202]

"Domestic violence was widespread and accepted by both men and women. Reports of spousal abuse particularly wife beating were common. Police normally did not intervene in domestic disputes, which seldom were discussed publicly. The Penal Code permits husbands to use physical means to chastise their wives as long as it does not result in "grievous harm," which is defined as loss of sight, hearing, power of speech, facial disfigurement, or life-threatening injuries. In more traditional areas of the country, courts and police were reluctant to intervene to protect women who formally accused their husbands if the level of alleged abuse did not exceed customary norms in the areas. According to the 2003 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), 64.5 percent of women and 61.3 percent of men agree that a husband was justified in hitting or beating his wife for at least one of six specified reasons, including burning food and not cooking on time."

Document(s): Open document

04.03.2002 - Source: US Department of State

USDOS: Domestic violence ("Annual report 2001") [#5760],  [ID 15203]

"Domestic violence is a problem. Reports of spousal abuse are common, especially those of wife beating. Police normally do not intervene in domestic disputes, which seldom are discussed publicly. The Penal Code permits husbands to use physical means to chastise their wives as long as it does not result in "grievous harm," which is defined as loss of sight, hearing, power of speech, facial disfigurement, or other life threatening injuries. A women's rights group has estimated that spousal abuse occurs in 20 percent of adult relationships. In more traditional areas of the country, courts and police are reluctant to intervene to protect women who accuse their husbands formally if the level of alleged abuse does not exceed customary norms in the areas. Rape and sexual harassment continued to be problems."

Document(s): Open document