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Newly inaugurated Deputy Coordinator of the African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA), Enugu State Branch, Chidi Obeke-Okoli, has described domestic violence as a national emergency, stressing the need for urgent and coordinated action to tackle the menace across Nigeria.
Speaking in Enugu shortly after her inauguration recently, she characterised domestic abuse as a dangerous cankerworm eroding the foundation of the Nigerian family and undermining national peace and security.
The human rights lawyer also outlined an ambitious reform agenda that extends beyond courtroom advocacy to grassroots mobilisation, institutional accountability and community-driven prevention.
Central to her intervention is the legal framework established by the Enugu State Government under the leadership of Governor Peter Mbah.
Obeke-Okoli commended the state government for domesticating the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law (VAPP), describing the move as a decisive step toward strengthening protections for victims.
According to her, the domestication of the VAPP Law signals that Enugu State would no longer tolerate domestic violence in any form. She urged legal practitioners, law enforcement agencies and residents to ensure that the legislation functions not merely as a statutory instrument but as an active safeguard for vulnerable persons.
“The legal machinery is in place. What remains is collective responsibility to make the law work,” she said.
The AWLA deputy coordinator also expressed concern over what she described as the fading culture of communal responsibility in Nigerian society.
She lamented a growing trend whereby bystanders record incidents of domestic abuse for social media rather than intervene or report them. An ideal society, she argued, must be built on empathy, courage and the willingness to speak up against wrongdoing.
“No society can thrive where neighbours ignore suffering next door,” she stated, calling for a return to the values of collective protection and moral accountability.
She directed strong remarks at the Nigeria Police Force and Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) operating in Enugu State, urging improved responsiveness to domestic violence complaints.
She condemned the reported practice of demanding unofficial mobilisation fees to process petitions or act on cases, describing it as an unacceptable barrier to justice.
Demanding monetary compensation from victims, she said, amounts to a second layer of trauma and institutional betrayal. She warned that any verified cases of extortion would be escalated to the appropriate national authorities.
Affirming that domestic violence is a nationwide problem affecting all 36 states of the federation, Obeke-Okoli said Enugu would serve as a model for comprehensive reform.
She disclosed plans to simplify and translate the VAPP Law into local dialects to enhance public understanding, particularly in rural communities and markets. The aim, she explained, is to ensure that every citizen understands their rights and the legal remedies available.
