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Spousal homicide in Nigeria: Socio-psychological profiles of men who kill their wives

Without gainsaying, there has been a recent increase in the incidences of spousal homicide in Nigeria. Meanwhile, research on family violence has vigorously focused on spousal abuse, trends and prevalence of domestic violence, while the most severe of violence-the killing of a spouse, has not received an equal amount of attention. Available statistics show that men are more culpable in abusing their wives to the point of death. Leaning on general strain theory, this present study examined the psychological factors and sociological background of men who have been charged and/or convicted of killing their wives. Qualitative analysis of official demographic and offence history data, and in-depth interviews of 21 purposively selected male offenders of spousal homicide in celled housing units in Kirikiri Maximum and Ikoyi Prisons, Lagos State, revealed that childhood experience of violence and abuse is strongly connected with perception and perpetration of violence in marital life. There is a clear empirical evidence to suggest that qualitatively, men who kill their spouses do not differ greatly from those who use nonlethal violence. Demographic and personality traits like negative emotions, low constraints, jealousy and envy were found to be important predisposing factors to spousal homicide. It is essential that an understanding of spousal homicide is continuously pursued and that steps are taken to reduce the likelihood of spousal homicide—the final abuse.

Aborisade, R.A., Adedayo, S.S., & Shontan, A.R. (2019) Spousal homicide in Nigeria: Socio-psychological profiles of men who kill their wives, Journal of Management and Social Sciences, 8(1) 487-502

“Why always me?”: Family violence and prejudicial treatment of children with albinism in Nigeria

In an attempt to address the paucity of research examining the childhood experience of people living with albinism within family context, the present study explored family-based violence and prejudicial treatments against children born with albinism in Nigeria. In addition, issues that traumatized children with albinism (CWA) within their family setting, and the coping strategies they found effective were identified. The research was located within an interpretive qualitative paradigm and framed within the theories of ‘othering,’ self-esteem, and family system. Interviews were conducted with 62 adults living with albinism who were raised in family settings. The prejudicial treatments and family-based violent behaviors experienced by participants were explored, and a thematic analysis of the narratives was carried out. Findings confirm the existence of family violence and prejudice regarding albinism. Prejudices on albinism were found to result in parents denying CWA of educational and vocational sponsorship, cordial family relationship, social interactions and attendance of social events. Family members’ perceptions of CWA were reportedly influenced by social and religious inclinations. Families were found not to be only violent with CWA but also facilitating institutional violence by religious organizations. Participants expressed developing emotional problems like paranoia, anger, depression, feelings of powerlessness, and low self-esteem, while they utilized varieties of emotion-oriented coping strategies during their childhood experiences. CWA are subjected to prejudice and violence within their families that are unique and deserving of research and policy interventions. Therefore, family-based orientations, screening for family violence, religious and social groups’ support for people living with albinism (PWA) were suggested.

Aborisade, R.A. (2021) “Why always me?”: Family violence and prejudicial treatment of children with albinism in Nigeria, Journal of Family Violence, 36(1) 1081–1094. DOI: 10.1007/s10896-021-00264-7

Domestic violence against men on familial relationships in Nigeria: Evidence from a qualitative study

Domestic violence against men has continued to affect familial relationships in the contemporary African society. While the discourse has received little attention in the academic domain, the menace persisted across households in Nigeria as stigma, shame and culture of silence affected reportage. Existing research on domestic violence predominantly centers on women as victims and men as perpetrators, the experiences of male victims have been largely marginalized. This article therefore investigates and contributes empirically to knowledge on the patterns, promoting causes and consequences of domestic violence against men by examining the perspectives of male victims and female perpetrators in Ibadan Metropolis, Nigeria. Frustration-Aggression theory was used to guide the study. With the use of purposive and snowballing sampling technique, 22 in-depth interviews and 13 key-informant’s interviews were conducted. The responses of the interviews were content analyzed. The findings revealed the multifaceted nature of domestic violence, debunking the myth that it primarily affects women. Findings also deepens our understanding of the dynamics and impact of domestic violence on men, emphasizing the importance of addressing their physical and psychological well-being. Urgent action is needed to support male victims to report their victimizations, while service providers such as police officers, healthcare professionals, and social workers should be trained on how to identify and respond to cases of domestic violence against men.

Ogunyemi, J.A. and Aborisade, R.A. (2023) Domestic violence against men on familial relationships in Nigeria: Evidence from a qualitative study, African Journal for the Psychological Study of Social Issues, 26(3) 72-92

Marry your rapist!: A phenomenological analysis of the experiences of women forced to marry their assaulters in their childhood

Child sexual abuse (CSA) and child marriage (CM) are two social realities that have drawn and sustained considerable research attention in Nigeria. However, research into the intersections of CSA and CM is scarce. This qualitative study explores the lived experiences of women who suffered CSA and were forced to marry their sexual assaulters in their childhood. Ten survivors were engaged in semi-structured interviews, and an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was utilized to identify four superordinate themes of participants’ experiences. These themes emphasized sexual abuse repeatedly experienced by participants, forced marriage to their assaulters, childbearing and mothering responsibilities foisted on them in their teenage, and hostilities and intimidation encountered in their marital lives. Participants provided accounts of short- and long-term physical and mental issues trailing their abuse and their coping mechanisms. The need to effectively address the cultural and religious factors that tolerate the practice of marrying CSA victims as a form of assuaging the debilitating effects of sexual assault was stressed.

Report and risk being called a weakling? perspectives of male victims on sociocultural barriers to reporting spousal abuse

Considerable studies have examined and ascertained a significant number of male victims of domestic abuse, yet less is known about the social experiences of men who report their victimization. This study aims to explore the factors that interplay in the decisions of abused men to report, the sociocultural barriers to reporting abuse, and post-report social reactions toward victimized men. Fifty-two male victims of wife-initiated and perpetrated violence were engaged in a qualitative study, and an interpretative phenomenological analysis was carried out. Findings indicated a positive disposition of victims toward reporting but exhibited reluctance in reporting due to fear of social stigmatization, loss of sources of livelihood, and socio-religious statuses. Recognition of the predicaments of abused men in reporting and help-seeking processes is suggested, for their safety, coping, and wellbeing not to be compromised.

Aborisade, R.A. (2024) Report and risk being called a weakling? perspectives of male victims on sociocultural barriers to reporting spousal abuse Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 33(1) 13-31 https://doi.org/10.1080/10926771.2023.2194252

“Dual Punishment: Mothers in Nigerian Prisons and their Children”

The incarceration of women and the impact it has on children, families and the prisoner in terms of motherhood and parenting has become an increasingly prominent area of interest within the criminal justice and social welfare literature. Guided by attachment theory’s perspective on separation of mother from children, this current study explored the perceived unfulfilled parental tasks by incarcerated mothers; evaluated the care and support systems for nursing mothers in prison; examined the accessibility and frequency of contacts between incarcerated mothers and children, and investigated the effects of separation on children of incarcerated mothers. Twenty-one in-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted among purposively selected female inmates who are equally mothers. Meanwhile, six prison officials of Ijebu-Ode and Old Abeokuta prisons and two child psychologists were engaged as key informants of the study. In spite of their incarceration, there is high perception of parenting responsibility among the women in prison as they were largely the primary provider of welfare for their children prior to their incarceration. The main factors that inhibit the imprisoned mothers from having regular contacts with their children include stigmatisation, superstitious beliefs about children visiting prisons, relocation, and the corrupt practices of prison security agents. Children who are separated from a parent due to prison suffer multiple problems associated with their loss. Correctional services in the country should be better equipped to manage incarcerated mothers and provide appropriate resources and services. There is need to advance knowledge on the experiences of women in the justice system and allocate attention to the services offered to incarcerated mothers so they may better manage their own lives and the lives of their children.

Aborisade, R.A. and Balogun, O.O. (2016) “Dual Punishment: Mothers in Nigerian Prisons and their Children”. African Journal for Psychological and Social Sciences Issues, 19(1) 1-15.

“A Qualitative Exploration of the Coping Strategies of Female Offenders in Nigerian Prisons”

Deprivation and importation theories propose that the experience and adjustment of inmates to prison life is dependent on the restrictive prison milieu and their pre-prison experiences and orientation. This implies that prison’s sub-culture mediate the relationship between demographic characteristics and adjustment to prison life. Although this core assumption underlies both theories, few researchers have attempted to test its validity, while those that does have largely focused on male offenders. Guided by an integration of the two theories, this current study explored the specific gender-related challenges that female inmates of Nigerian prisons are confronted with and the adjustment measures adopted by female prisoners. Qualitative, in-depth oral interviews were employed to gather information from 32 purposively selected female inmates and six prison officials of Ijebu-Ode and Old Abeokuta prisons. There are evidential supports for the integrative/alliance theory as key findings of this study confirm determinants of adjustability of the inmates to prison life as including age, level of religious commitment, years of incarceration, prison history, and pre-prison experience like socioeconomic, marital (especially those with children) and educational status. Various strategies used to adjust to prison life by the inmates included self-withdrawal, indulgence and some level of social reclusion (asceticism); forging cordial relationships with fellow inmates and staff; and participating very actively in the religious programmes within the prisons. The study suggests that both government and nongovernmental organisations should intervene and develop social supports that recognise the biogenic peculiarities of female inmates in order for the prisons to meet the two objectives of rehabilitating and reforming the female offenders.

Aborisade, R.A. and Fayemi, J.A. (2016) “A Qualitative Exploration of the Coping Strategies of Female Offenders in Nigerian Prisons”, International Journal of Criminology and Sociological Theory, 9 (1) 1-22

“Elders in Prison: Their Health Status, Well-Being and Health-Promoting Behaviours in Nigerian Prisons”.

As prisons in Nigeria continue to witness ever growing number of aging women and men, concerns have been raised on the adequacy of the facilities in correctional institutions in the country to meet the support needs of the elderly inmates. Therefore, in order to advance knowledge on the well-being of elderly inmates in Nigeria’s correctional facilities, and as a way of supporting global empirical interests in the management of the elderly in corrections, this present study examined the capacity of prisons in Ogun State to cater for the health and other physiological needs of the elderly under incarceration. Guided by an integration of importation and deprivations theories, the study conducted a qualitative exploratory research at two purposively selected prisons in Ogun State. Through in-depth and key informant interviews, primary data were collected from 27 purposively selected inmates that were above age 55 and four officials of Ibara, Abeokuta and Ijebu-Ode prisons. The disposition of the elderly prisoners to report their health status was found to be low due to their perception that the prison authorities will not assist them medically, fear of stigmatisation, fear of confinement in solitary cells, and negative attitude of prison officials. The well-being of the elderly were further threatened by lack of proper diet, overcrowded rooms, lack of proper room ventilation, lack of regular exercises, inhaling of cigarette smoke from other inmates, irregular bath due to insufficient water, violence from other inmates, mosquito and other insect bites, sleeplessness due to discomfort and inadequate bedding facilities. In the light of the evidence provided by this present study, there is need to stress the benefits of improved health education and health awareness among the older prisoners. The government through the prison

authorities should also show more commitment to the management of health of the aged in prisons.

Aborisade, R.A., Omotayo, T.O., and Oshileye, T.A. (2016) “Elders in Prison: Their Health Status, Well-Being and Health-Promoting Behaviours in Nigerian Prisons”. Nigerian Journal of Social Studies, XIX (2) 85-106.

Systematic Brutality, Torture and Abuse of Human Rights by the Nigerian Police: Accounts of Inmates of Ogun State Prisons

Nigeria is a country where serious cases of abuse of police authority and human rights infringements by security agents often stimulate intense public debate. Though there have been consistent denials by the leadership of the Nigerian Police on the use of torture-based interrogations to elicit information from arrestees, extant literature affirms that the police rely on different forms of torture as principal means of investigation. This paper appraised the recurrent problem of brutality and abuse of human right by the Nigerian police. Triangulating both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection which included questionnaires administered on 1000 accidentally selected inmates, 50 purposively selected in-depth interviewees and 10 officials of the five prisons in Ogun State who were key informants. The study found that the police rely heavily on the use of torture to elicit “confessions” from arrestees. Former detainees reported experiences that included being bound and suspended midair in painful positions, kicked and beaten with machetes, gun butts, boots, fists, electrical wires, animal hides, and other instruments. The lack of capacity to conduct proper criminal investigation is responsible for the reliance of the police on torture-induced confessions. Therefore, there is need for the government to improve on the capacity of the Police in their investigative responsibilities and encourage professionalism amongst its rank and file.

Aborisade, R.A. and Obileye, A.A. (2017) Systematic Brutality, Torture and Abuse of Human Rights by the Nigerian Police: Accounts of Inmates of Ogun State Prisons. The Nigerian Journal of Anthropology and Sociology, 15 (1) 1-16.

‘One rule for the goose, one for the gander’? The use of Plea Bargaining for high profile Corruption Cases in Nigeria

Controversies have continued to trail the adoption and use of plea bargaining in the criminal justice administration in Nigeria, particularly in prosecuting high profile corruption cases. This paper interrogated the pros and cons of its application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to recover looted funds from high profile corrupt public officials. Leaning heavily on sociological school, which emphasizes the relationship between law and the needs and institutions of the society, the article explored various schools of thought in law as regards the conceptualisation of plea bargaining, theoretical underpinnings of the emergence, adoption and the implication of its use on Nigeria’s drive towards ensuring equality before the law. The selective use of plea bargaining in the country is adjudged to be counterproductive and inimical to the country’s quest for social justice.

Aborisade, R.A. and Adeleke, O.A (2018) ‘One rule for the goose, one for the gander’? The use of Plea Bargaining for high profile Corruption Cases in Nigeria African Research Review, 12 (2) 1-12.