The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) has demanded the immediate prosecution of the estranged husband of a female journalist for assault.

This is contained in a statement by NAWOJ national president Ladi Bala.

Ms Bala said the journalist, Nafesah Vandi of the Adamawa Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), was brutalised by her husband, dislocating her hand.

“The most recent being the case of a female journalist, a mother of three working with the ABC Yola, Vandi. The irony is that the estranged husband, a dismissed staff of PHCN, has not been living up to his responsibility of fending for his family as he totally abdicated such to his wife,” the NWAOJ statement said. “Painfully but, curiously, is the fact that he resolved to brutalise the wife few minutes after issuing her with a divorce letter as a parting gift.”

NAWOJ expressed concerns about rising spousal abuse and attacks.

“The fundamental rights and dignity of women must be upheld and respected by all at all times. No spouse deserves to be brutalised and dehumanised in the guise of provocation of any form or reason,” it said.

Despite ongoing sensitisation campaigns on sexual and gender-based violence, including the domestication of the VAPP laws in many states, abuse and violent attacks on women continued, according to the association.

NAWOJ called on the inspector general of police and the police commissioner in Adamawa to arrest and prosecute the journalist’s husband.

Also, it called on faith-based organisations, human rights activists, and relevant non-governmental organisations to speak out against violence and abuse of women and girls. 

(NAN)