DOMESTIC ABUSE IN NIGERIA: THEORETICAL FOUNDATION AND CHRISTIAN APPROACH

Abstract

Domestic abuse or domestic violence has been a turbulent issue in the country. Many have lost their life or being maimed as a result of it. The question is: who is to be blamed for this quagmire? Any individual is a potential perpetrator when faced with a toxic relationship. This means there is no exemption to domestic abuse instigation as relates to gender. This paper introduced four new theories of domestic abuse which are coinage of the writers. These are the Partner-Support Theory which states that the perpetrator becomes domineering because of their supportive inclination towards the welfare of the family, the Parent-Veto Theory which states that the consent of the victim is not recognized for marriage by the parent or parents as the case may be, the Theory of Mannerism which states that the perpetrator is inherently violent or troublesome by nature and the Mood Swing Theory which states that the perpetrator becomes upset about trivial issues between them and their partner, while the two Christian approaches to domestic abuse as coined by the writers are Group counselling Approach where the Church needs to institute a group of individuals whose job is to go house to house to sensitize people on issues of domestic abuse, and the Organisational Approach where there is the need to establish an organisation in the churches that is open for consultation on marriage related issues and avoidance of domestic abuse in marital relationship. The paper also sought to look into the types, causes, and consequences of domestic abuse. It is recommended among others that the Church should establish rehabilitation centres for children from abusive homes as they are prone to violence when they grow up to adulthood. The Church should also endeavour to empower couples of abusive relationship as lack of means of livelihood is tantamount to frustration which eventually leads to violent acts.