INTRODUCTION
The term violence is not unfamiliar in Nigeria as it operates more as an action than a specific term. From the home environment where domestic violence reigns supreme to the school where assault and battery is common amongst students, into the broader society where violence appears as a spontaneous reaction to every form of provocation or a blatant manifestation of the existing inequality in Nigeria today.
Even the formal sectors populated with educated individuals are not exempt from this menace as they often resort to subtle types of violence to achieve their goals. Prior to the enactment of Violence against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP) hereinafter referred as to the Act, the presence of older legislations failed to recognize the critical dangers posed by this menace known as violence against persons.
In fact, in certain cases, it contributed significantly to the rampant display of violence against one another. For instance, the Penal Code condones the battering of one’s wife to instil discipline in her and give correction. The case of Akinbuwa v Akinbuwa held that minor assault for corrective purposes by a woman’s husband is tolerable. While no law expressly legitimizes the violence of men, it is very pertinent to state that men too experience violence inflicted by their colleagues, spouses and employers at work.
Unusually, this essay seeks to create a fair perspective on violence against men and women without tilting into the usual tale of which the media is saturated with. With the use of statistics and seasoned articles authored by astute writers, the author will thoroughly examine the provisions of the act, state level adoption and of course, the effectiveness of our response to the provisions of this Act while reinforcing this analysis with brilliant recommendations and suggestions, considering relevant International Conventions.
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