The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) says it received 282 complaints about domestic violence in Kaduna in 2022.

The state coordinator of the commission, Terngu Gwar, disclosed this in an interview on Tuesday in Kaduna.

The coordinator noted that the number was higher than the 214 received by the commission in 2021.

Mr Gwar said domestic violence, especially against women, was the commonest among the complaints, adding that violence against children and women had increased.

According to him, the commission also received complaints about forceful marriage, abandonment of wife/family, custody/access to children, sexual abuse, and abandonment.

”Others are cases of alleged torture, extra-judicial killing, unlawful arrest/detention, threats to life, cruelty, nonpayment of benefits/ entitlements,” Mr Gwar explained. “Also included are inhuman and degrading treatments which are not on the increase.”

The coordinator attributed the increase in domestic violence to poverty, ignorance of both parties’ family responsibilities, and inadequate pre-marital counselling.

Mr Gwar encouraged women to report cases of abuse and gender-related issues (sexual violence, domestic violence, forced marriage, women trafficking etc.) to the relevant authorities.

He said that such reports would help in fishing out and punishing offenders.

“Some women are afraid to report the cases for fear of breaking their marriages or being beaten by their husbands. Many women, particularly the educated, are not ready to come up. Meanwhile, some of them are dying in silence,” added Mr Gwar.

He said the commission also engaged in mediation and reconciliation of couples and families, adding that it referred some matters to the courts after investigations.

The coordinator called for social security for women and children, urging stakeholders to join the commission in its efforts to end the abuse of women and children.

(NAN)