Mental disorder, alcohol causes of domestic violence as Lagos records 2,331 cases  in 1yr

Ayodele Olalere

Lagos State has witnessed an increase in cases of domestic violence as the state recorded 2,331 cases in the last one year.

This was revealed by the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Justice ,Titilayo Shitta-Bey, who was represented by the Executive Secretary,  Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency,  Titilayo Vivour-Adeniyi , at a media parley to commemorate this year’s Domestic and Sexual Violence Awareness Month.

According to her, from August, 2022 to July 2023, the agency received a total of 5,624 cases via the Virtual Referral and Response Service, VRRS, and physical report, out of which 2,331 involved domestic violence, 90 were rape cases,  72 sexual assault, one attempt to commit rape, two  sexual assault by penetration,  123 threat to life, and  609 separation.

Others were  384 cases involving tenancy disputes,143 child abuse and physical assault,, 235 defilement cases, three  defilement and molestation by minor to minor, and 33 Sexual harassment and molestation cases.

Shitta-Bey further said out of the 57 local governments and council development areas, the top five with highest reporting for adult were Alimosho, Ikorodu, Kosofe, Eti-Osa and Oshodi Isolo while cases involving children were reported highest in  Alimosho, Oshodi, Kosofe, Ikorodu and Ifako-Ijaiye.

She also said research shows that majority of domestic violence occurs in the evening, while sexual violence occurs mostly in the afternoon, adding 86.3% were against women, adding many domestic violence occurred during the first five years of marriage while  50% of the reports were made after 10 years of the subsistence of the marriage.

She added men were also victims of domestic violence as reports from males increased in the last one year.

” 340 males reported incidents of domestic violence perpetrated against them compared to 140 cases received from men last year(Sept 2021-July 2022). This is an indication that the culture of silence amongst the male gender concerning issues of sexual and gender based violence is also gradually being broken,” she said.

In the case of children, she said a total of 1,598 children have experienced emotional abuse having been  exposed to domestic violence within the home, out of  which  40% of these children have been taken through counselling programs to ensure they are able to psychologically deal with the events they have witnessed without it having a permanent and negative impact on them.

“The youngest child that experienced sexual violence was an 18 months old baby, while the oldest client  that experienced domestic violence was a 79 year old woman,” she further said.

Giving reasons for the rise in domestic violence, she said research showed that abusers have been diagnosed with mental issues as well as alcoholic influence. Other factors were infidelity, and lack of communication between couples.

” Another analysis of the data revealed that there’s a link between mental health issues and domestic violence, as 10% of the survivors noted that their abusers are diagnosed with mental health issues.”

For this year’s awareness,  the Permanent Secretary said the theme ‘ SGBV?..Not my Lagos  was specifically chosen  ‘based on the compelling need to ensure that residents of Lagos realize that the state has zero tolerance for SGBV and we will continue to ensure that SGBV does not thrive in Lagos State.’

Some activities earmarked for the month includes Turn Alausa Purple/Advocacy Walk  within the secretariat, market fiesta, a symposium tagged ‘From Trauma to Triumph,’ Inter-Generational Conversations, Safeguarding and Child-Protection Day, Governor’s Awards/Commendation Night,