Worried about the spate of women dying from domestic violence in the state, the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Akwa Ibom State Council has condemned the act of wife battering by men.
The Association made known their position on Tuesday, April 13, 2021 during its monthly meeting which held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Uyo.
Speaking passionately about the ugly trend of women being killed by their husbands, Vice Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Nene Affia urged abused women to speak up for help when they see signs of domestic violence.
“It usually begins with a slap, a blow or a push before it increases to two or more; and when that starts, there’s no going back. You’ll never know which slap or punch will lead to death”, she stressed.
Recalling the case of a woman in Uyo who was hunted and stabbed to death multiple times by her husband and a 6 months pregnant woman who was killed by her violent husband recently, Comrade Affia posited that no amount of endurance, cover-up or pretence would bring back a life lost to domestic violence.
The Vice Chairman who also cautioned women on controlled verbal communication with their spouses observed that unguarded comments and remarks by them are the major causes of domestic violence.
While charging members of NAWOJ to spread the advocacy against domestic violence, the Vice Chairman asked that they talk to their brothers and male acquaintances on the perils of domestic violence and why they should avoid it.
Lending her voice to the sad trend, Comrade Patience Mathew observed that a lot of women were being compelled to remain in abusive relationships and marriages for fear of being labelled as irresponsible and stigmatized as single mothers.
“Women should learn to accomodate and support single moms rather than stigmatize them. No marriage is the best. We should stop intimidating our fellow women with our perfect marriages and rather draw close to help them overcome domestic violence”, she stated.
Earlier in her remarks, the State Chairperson of NAWOJ, Comrade Uduak Ekong charged the female journalists on the need to get a jab of the Covid-19 vaccine to stay protected against the killer virus as they go about their reportorial duties.
The meeting featured the celebration of NAWOJians born in April and a session of prayers for the Association and its members.
