Domestic crisis: Violence tearing Lagos homes apart

n n

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

n

RECENTLY, the kitchen is no longer the only place getting hot in Lagos homes; every room is on fire. Marriage is supposed to be about partnership, but in 2026, for a growing number of Lagos couples, it’s about who throws the first punch. She threw the plate. He threw the first punch.

n

By morning, the marriage of five years had two black eyes and a broken dining table. Meanwhile, Lagos has handled approximately 700 cases involving male victims of domestic abuse over the past one year. It also recorded 33,009 cases between late 2021 and mid-2026, perhaps highlighting an intensified legal crackdown despite heavy caseloads. DSVA Executive Secretary, Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, disclosed this when she led a delegation on a courtesy visit to Vanguard Media’s Apapa office.

n

She fingered economic pressure, mental health strain, and a culture of silence as top culprits, turning domestic disputes into full-blown fights. In 2026, “till death do us part” is taking on a more literal meaning for too many couples, she said. Across apartments in Alimosho, Surulere, Ikorodu, and Lekki, arguments over money, stress, and infidelity are no longer ending in slammed doors. They are ending in fisticuffs. Husbands and wives, once partners, are now throwing punches. And as violence tears Lagos homes apart, what used to be whispered as “marital issues” is now spilling into hospitals, police stations, and the streets.

n

Beyond Physical Violence

n

Domestic and sexual violence extends far beyond physical violence to include emotional, verbal, and financial abuse. From arguments over school fees to late nights and WhatsApp messages, violence has moved from the street into the bedroom. Counsellors, police, a n d survivors say the pattern is clear: Lagos homes are tearing apart, one fight at a time. The question is, what broke first: the home or the people in it?

n

Women Bear Primary Brunt at 90%, as Reporting Revs Up

n

According to Vivour-Adeniyi, the data released by the Lagos State Ministry of Justice and DSVA revealed over 711 cases formally charged to court. Approximately 88 per cent to 90 per cent of adult domestic violence reporters are female, though male victims account for about 10 per cent to 12 per cent of cases handled by the agency. Domestic violence, she said, accounted for the overwhelming majority of reported incidents, totaling 13,515 cases. Official demographic data showed that adult women continue to bear the primary brunt of abuse, representing approximately 90 per cent of reporting survivors, compared to roughly 10 per cent male reporters. The figure highlights a growing shift in public reporting as economic pressures continue to place a strain on household stability across the state. Lagos State Government, through the Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, DSVA, has secured over 160 court convictions against perpetrators of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, SGBV, in the last one year.

n

Areas of Prevalence

n

The local government areas (LGAs) consistently generating the highest number of reported spousal and adult domestic abuse cases, according to DSVA, include Alimosho, Ikorodu, Eti-Osa, Kosofe, Ikeja, and Oshodi-Isolo.

n

Ikeja LGA Adopts Campaign

n

Complementing the state government’s drive to curb the menace, the Ikeja Local Government has championed a sensitisation campaign and walk through the streets aimed at raising awareness and promoting peaceful homes across the council area. The exercise, which was held last Wednesday, was organised by the Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, WAPA, and led by council officials and community stakeholders. Participants displayed placards bearing various inscriptions, such as “Say No to Domestic Violence” and “Ikeja Says No to Domestic Violence,” as they called on the public to speak up against all forms of abuse. The exercise also focused on healthy communication, mutual respect, and peaceful conflict resolution, with residents urged to report cases of abuse while supporting victims and witnesses in accessing help promptly. Ikeja Local Government reaffirmed its commitment to building a community where residents can live free from violence, intimidation, and abuse.

n

Homes in Crisis

n

A recent case study happened in a Lagos suburb, while a quiet community in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State was left in shock after a Celestial Church pastor killed his wife during a domestic argument before later dying on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway. The incident happened in the early hours of Monday, August 31, at Ogooluwa community, Akiode Ibogun. The pastor, identified as Bidemi Odukoya, was the Shepherd of Iri Orun Parish of the Celestial Church of Christ, which he reportedly ran with his wife. According to accounts from residents, the couple had an argument around 2 a.m. Odukoya allegedly attacked his wife with a machete and a wooden stool, causing fatal injuries. After the attack, the father of three boys reportedly left the community and headed towards Coker Junction, along the Ifo section of the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.

n n